Today the Washington State Library (WSL) released a new Broadband Stimulus Funding Resource page at http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/libraries/projects/broadband/resources.aspx.

The page describes the role that we will play in assisting Washington libraries in their quest for broadband stimulus funding as administered by the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

Specifically, our role is to facilitate information sharing and partnering between libraries and other applicant partners (e.g., vendors, non-profits). We will provide public information resources and make libraries aware of potential application partners.

We have decided not not to apply for broadband stimulus funding on behalf of Washington’s libraries. There are non-library applicants desiring to partner with libraries who have the capability to bring the broadband pipe to the library building. We don’t have that capability and that is what many libraries need.

On our Broadband Resources page we invite broadband stimulus funding applicants – those who desire to partner with Washington libraries — to send us abstracts of and links to their application proposals. We will post these on our resources web page and also distribute the information through library email lists and other communication channels.

Additionally, you will find links to resources both internal to the State Library and external that will be useful to applicants. For example, "must reads" such as the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) and BIP and BTOP applications are linked.

The Library Council of Washington adopted a resolution supporting libraries seeking broadband stimulus funding. We have not posted it on the Resources page but it is available to any library that requests it. Please send your request to me at [email protected]. And please check our advice to libraries in the "For Washington Libraries" section.

As always, we’d love to hear from you.