Interests for attending the meeting fell into three basic areas: 1) a desire for more information about the NTIA grant program; 2) the ability to identify potential partners for an application; and 3) a desire to partner with the Communities Connect Network in their grant application.

Marc Baldwin, Executive Policy Advisory, Washington State Office of the Governor, re-iterated the Governor’s priorities for the federal stimulus funding which includes broadband stimulus funding. These are:

• Smart use: In the area of broadband, uses which advance the interests of the State of Washington based on the work of the high-speed internet working group and the governor’s broadband advisory council. A further clarification of state strategy in the area of broadband and stimulus funding should be available by mid-July.
• As much stimulus funding as possible: in all categories of funding including broadband to further the needs and interests of the citizens of the State.
• Accountability: Track the use of the funding closely to ensure it is wisely and properly used.

He indicated that their reading of timelines would find the Notice of Funding Availability for the first round of funding out in early July 2009.

Greg Rohde, President of e-Copernicus, Former Administrator of the NTIA, indicated that the Notice of Funding Availability (the grant guidelines) would be available on or about June 23^rd.

He indicated that for NTIA, partnerships would appear to be an important aspect. Applications which represent multiple interests, applications which are coordinated between interest groups, and applications which serve multiple purposes may have a priority in the process and receive some additional level of point. My blogger’s note – until the guidelines are released later this month or early next month this remains speculation so it may be right on target or not.

For NTIA, match remains to be seen. Waivers may be available but likely granted only in extreme cases. While a minimum match is likely at the 20% range, applications which are viewed in the most favorable light may have matches that are in the range of 40%, 50% or more.

Senator Jim Kastama spoke of Washington state being a leader in demand side technology, for example, the Community Technology Opportunities Program (http://dgss.wsu.edu/ctop/). He indicated that the digital economy is where much of the growth will be located in the future.

Representative Zack Hudgins spoke to serving schools, libraries, and health but also to developing specific areas such as telehealth and engaging in projects that will promote or serve diversity.

Representative Hudgins indicated that several challenges loom large including:

• Defining what broadband speeds and bandwidths are acceptable
• Defining what investment we are willing to make to go forward
• Articulating clearly how important broadband deployment is locally in our communities, businesses, and homes

Considerable time was spent in small group discussion. Numerous interest areas were represented. Communities Connect Network staff will type up the notes from the small group work and this information will be sent out to attendees when available. Within each of the topical areas discussed in the small group setting, needs, resources and potential partnerships were discussed. Priority areas of focus were developed and reported out to the entire group.

Betty Buckley, Executive Director of the Communities Connect Network (CCN) talked about next steps. CCN intends to take full advantage of social networking tools to get the word out to interested parties. They are pushing information via Twitter and are developing a presence on both Facebook and Flickr. Look for waconnects on these sites to find out the latest.

CCN is developing a statewide application for those who care to work with them. An administrative fee will be charged, part of which will be requested through the grant.