… thinking of applying for federal broadband stimulus funding. That’s right, just published last Friday, Enhancing Broadband in Washington: Effective Means to Improve Connectivity and Awareness / Report of the Governor’s Broadband Advisory Council, July 17, 2009.

The report includes recommendations for broadband mapping, public-private partnering, Anchor Institutions, multi-purpose grant proposals, and broadband access and adoption programs all to provide the Governor with a framework for advising federal officials on the priorities of the State.

State librarian, Jan Walsh, was a member of the Governor’s Broadband Advisory Council (GBAC) from its inception. Her goal: to make sure Washington libraries had a place at the table. So how did libraries fair in the final version?

As Jan says, “libraries are all over the place in the document.” Throughout the three GBAC meetings libraries were constantly mentioned as anchor institutions along with schools and hospitals. In this document other organizations are on the list. To quote (pg. 16): “The term ‘anchor tenants and institutions’ includes, but is not limited to, public entities such as schools, libraries, public safety agencies, community and technical colleges, community technology organizations, hospitals, tribal centers, and other community or civic oriented organizations that provide services and “public benefits” to their communities.

The report clearly states that applicants for broadband should keep anchor institutions in mind as they prepare their applications – if they expect to receive the governor’s blessing: “… the GBAC believes it is important that project proponents seek to address the broadband requirements of potential anchor tenants and institutions for areas where they seek to augment or expand the reach of their networks … Applicants should be strongly encouraged to engage these stakeholders in crafting their broadband proposals and actively seek endorsements or commitments from potential anchor tenants to increase or raise the possibility or likelihood of a specific endorsement from the Governor.” (pg. 16) Even so, libraries will have to continue to work hard to be heard and to be included as partners in the applications of service providers.

The third bullet in the Summary of Recommendations states: “Support proposals that pursue federal stimulus funding to address broadband connectivity for Anchor Institutions. (pg. 5) Further, “By signaling to broadband applicants the state’s intent to support partnerships with (for example: libraries, health care providers, and educational institutions) broadband applicants may be more aware and responsive to the authentic needs of anchor institutions and the synergies inherent in pursuing joint proposals.” (pg. 10)

There’s more in the report which you can find on our broadband stimulus funding resources web site at http://author.www.secstate.wa.gov/library/libraries/projects/broadband/resources.aspx. The governor’s council has spoken. Let’s hope the governor takes their counsel seriously.

Have a thought about the GBAC report? Leave us a comment.