Resource List

Agencies

• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Home http://www.ntia.doc.gov/
• NTIA — National Broadband Map http://www.ntia.doc.gov/
• NTIA — Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) and State Broadband Data and Development Program (SBDD) http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — National Broadband Plan http://www.broadband.gov/
• FCC — Broadband Initiatives http://www.fcc.gov/broadband
• Certified Regional Development Corporations — Map & Contact Information http://businessresources.mt.gov/ CRDC/crdcmap.mcpx
• State Library — BTOP Program Information http://msl.mt.gov/btop/

Funding Resources

Federal Funding

• USDA — Rural Utilities Service (RUS) — Broadband Funding Programs http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ RUSTelecomPrograms.html
  • Recovery Act Broadband Initiatives Program
  • Community Connect Grant Program
  • Farm Bill Broadband Loan Program
  • Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program
  • Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan Program
  • Expansion of 911 Access Loan Program
• USDA — Rural Development Program - Rural Business Enterprise Grants http://www.ntia.doc.gov/
• U.S. Department of Commerce — NTIA — Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program Note: The program is not accepting funding requests at this time. To monitor past grants: http://www2. ntia.doc.gov/awards
• U.S. Department of Education — Office of Educational Technology — Grants & Programs http://www2.ed.gov/about/ offices/list/os/technology/ edgrants.html
  • Enhancing Education Through Technology
  • Technology & Media Services
  • Assistive Technology
  • Ready to Teach
  • Ready to Learn
  • Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — Telehealth Grant Programs http://www.hrsa.gov/ ruralhealth/about/telehealth/
• Universal Service Administrative Company — Universal Service Fund (USF) http://www.usac.org/hc/#
  • USF for High Cost Areas
  • USF for Low-Income Customers
  • USF Schools and Libraries Program (E-Rate)
  • Rural Health Care Program
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Preparedness Non-Disaster Grants for State, Local and Tribal Governments https://www.fema.gov/preparedness-non-disaster-grants
• Other agencies... have grants and programs to promote their primary mission but may have a broadband component:
  • U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development — Broadband for public housing http://portal.hud.gov/ hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/grants
  • U.S. Dept. of Transportation — Smart Transportation Projects http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/partnership-resources
  • National Science Foundation — Research and Development funds for new technology http://www.nsf.gov/funding/
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services — Grants for Digital Tools & Collections http://www.imls.gov/ applicants/project.aspx

State & Local Funding Sources

• Montana Department of Commerce has a number of programs that can be used for planning purposes, economic development, small business development, and training. Broadband related businesses may be able to use these programs to grow their business or train employees. Communities may be able to access planning and infrastructure funds to promote investment in broadband infrastructure: http://businessresources.mt. gov/default.mcpx
  • Office of Trade and International Relations
  • Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology
  • Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program
  • Community Development Block Grant
  • Indian Country Economic Development Program
  • Montana Technology Innovation Partnership
  • MicroBusiness Finance Program
  • Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant Program
  • SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program
  • ontana Indian Equity Fund Montana Entrepreneur Development Program
• Local Government Debt Financing — Local governments can make use of various kinds of debt financing to fund investment in infrastructure. This could include broadband infrastructure such as installing conduit as part of road construction or financing fiber-to-the —premise for industrial parks. Debt financing mechanisms include general obligation bonds, special improvement district bonds and revenue bonds as well as Tax Increment Financing Bonds. Debt financing enables local governments to finance major infrastructure projects using future revenue from special assessments, user fees, and other forms of revenue.

Other Grant Resources

• Montana Community Foundation — Foundation Grants for Communities http://mtcf.org
• Gates Foundation — Grant Opportunities http://www.gatesfoundation.org/How-We-Work/General-Information/Grant-Opportunities
• MacArthur Foundation — Digital Literacy http://digitallearning.macfound. org/site/c.enJLKQNlFiG/ b.2029199/ k.94AC/Latest_News.htm

Broadband Applications

• NTIA Digital Literacy Resources http://www.digitalliteracy.gov/
• Digital Cities Awards http://digitalcommunities.com
• Broadband Adoption in Communities http://www.linkidaho.org/content/broadband-201
• Broadband Communities Magazine http://www.bbpmag.com/
• IBM Smarter Planet http://www.ibm.com/ smarterplanet/us/ en/index.html?re=sph
• Telework http://www.telework.gov/, http://www.telework researchnetwork.com/

Montana Projects & Resources

• Montana Telecommunications Association http://www.telecomassn.org/
• Montana Independent Telecom Systems http://www.mitstel.com/
• Tech Ranch — Bozeman, MT. Provides business assistance to technology entrepreneurs
  910 Technology Blvd, Bozeman, Mt 59718     (406) 556-0272
• Montana Associated Technology Roundtables http://www.matr.net/
• Montana Economic Development Association http://www.medamembers.org/
• Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network http://www.emtn.org/
• REACH — Central Montana Telehealth Network http://www.reach-montana.org/
• Montana Health Network http://www.montana healthnetwork.com/
• Montana Digital Academy — On-line Learning http://montanadigitalacademy.org/
• VisionNet — Video-Conferencing & Network Provider http://www.vision.net/
• Northwestern Energy — Smart Grid Project http://www.northwesternenergy.com/our-company/environmental-commitment/smart-grid

Broadband Toolkits

• California http://cetfund.org/, http://empowernetcalifornia.org/ about-us
• eNC http://www.e-nc.org