On Friday July 31, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will open the application process for $50 million of a $200 million earmark in the Recovery Act for expanding computer center capacity under their Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). This is the first of three rounds of funding releases; applications for this first $50 million round of funds are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2009.

At a recent NTIA workshop in Los Angeles, participants were told that larger, more aggregated applications are the most desired in order to more effectively manage the review process for NTIA.  Single applicants or applications under $100,000 are probably not worth pursuing.

OPLIN, OLC, the State Library, the Board of Regents, and Connect Ohio have been working together for several weeks to develop an aggregated application for expanding public computer centers in Ohio. While these working sessions will continue through the next week, it is important to let you know now how we see including public libraries in this statewide application.

Connect Ohio is requesting BTOP funds for a program to provide a basic statewide curriculum to be used at public computer centers for training the public to use the Internet effectively, focusing on education in the use of some common computer software. They also propose running a statewide public awareness campaign to promote the availability of this training in public computer centers.

Libraries can take advantage of the Connect Ohio BTOP application in three ways:

  1. If a library has plans to expand its public computing capacity and has funds available to cover 20% of the cost, it is to the library's advantage to "attach" its application to the statewide Connect Ohio application. This not only will please NTIA, it will also leverage additional training and public relations resources to strengthen the library's application. Specific instructions for filling out the application to take advantage of this partnership with Connect Ohio are at http://www.oplin.org/applyBTOP.

  2. If a library has no plans to expand its current public computing facilities, but would still like to take advantage of the statewide training and PR, simply email a letter of support to Connect Ohio at info@connectohio.org with the subject "PCC letter of support.

  3. If a library wants to expand its public computing capacity but does not have the funds for a 20% match, Connect Ohio is also requesting NTIA funding for its new "Every Citizen Online" program. Should this request be successful, libraries might receive free computers from Connect Ohio. Libraries interested in this option should email a letter of support to Connect Ohio, this time with the subject "ECO letter of support."