roundtable: Re: TIIAP changes(FWD: CITS, Part 2)

roundtable: Re: TIIAP changes[FWD: CITS, Part 2]

Re: TIIAP changes[FWD: CITS, Part 2]

W. Curtiss Priest (BMSLIB@mitvma.mit.edu)
Fri, 24 Mar 95 14:21:57 EST 

Message-Id: <9503241922.AA04741@a.cni.org>
Date:  Fri, 24 Mar 95 14:21:57 EST
From: "W. Curtiss Priest" <BMSLIB@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Telecommunications Policy Roundtable <ROUNDTABLE@CNI.ORG>,
Subject:      Re: TIIAP changes[FWD: CITS, Part 2]


More details, Curt

Curtiss Priest
<bmslib@mitvma.mit.edu>

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Date:         Fri, 24 Mar 1995 10:53:16 -0800
From: Arthur Richard Brodsky <arb@WELL.COM>
Subject:      Re: TIIAP changes[FWD: CITS, Part 2]
To: Multiple recipients of list COMMUNET <COMMUNET%UVMVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>


I was in a bit of a hurry before, so let me try again.

A few weeks ago, NTIA published its criteria for the second round
of TIIAP grants, using money from FY 1995.  Some of this money would
be cut under the rescission bill passed by the House.

As I understand the TIIAP grant process, selection was based
in large part on the technology applications to be used, as well
as on other factors, including geography.  The financial status
of the applicant was simply one factor.

According to what NTIA Dir. Larry Irving said on 3/22, the
financial status of the applicant will get a lot more scrutiny, beginning
with the current grant round for which rules were published about
a month ago.  NTIA is trying to figure out how to change the rules
after they have been published.

The change is taking place in large measure due to pressure from
the House Appropriations Commerce Subcommittee.  For example -- and
ONLY an example, Charlotte's Web in Charlotte, N.C. has as its
partners a group of well-off businesses, including the local cable
company.  As I understand the discussion at the hearing, a project
able to have large financial resources at its disposal would be further
down on the food chain than a project which was more in need of
funds and didn't have bigger backers.  But as I caution, the details
are still being worked out.

A second factor is the geographic distribution.  In 2 hearings, one
with Irving, and another with Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, the
members of the subcommittee were shocked! to learn that grants had
been made to people in large cities, who presumably already had
access to community networks, the Net and the  like, and not to
people in rural areas -- such as states like Ky. and W.Va., that
those folks on the subcommittee represent.  NTIA tried to tell them
that a big chunk of the money was going to rural areas, and that
projects located in a city create links with rural areas, but
the argument didn't take.

Stay tuned for further details.

Hope this clarifies questions.  If not, I'll try again.

Art Brodsky
Communications Daily

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