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A representative from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said the agency is reportedly on time with its plans to award the first round of broadband stimulus grant money by its Nov. 1 deadline.

 

According to a news story published by Billing & OSS World, which covered a regulatory panel at the at the Fall 2009 COMPTEL PLUS Convention & Expo this week, NTIA is working round the clock, seven days each week, to sift through applications.

 

So far, more than 2,200 applicants have sought $28 billion in funding for only $4 billion in available funding for the first round, which is expected to be awarded in early November.

 

For the first round, the agency is reportedly expected to dole out $4.7 billion in funds.

 

 “We are on track,” said Angela Simpson, advisor to the assistant secretary for NTIA, reportedly told conference attendees during a regulatory panel. Simpson also reportedly said NTIA has already moved 18 applications to the second step of the vetting process with a request to submit more information for their last-mile, remote project fund requests.

 

Simpson also said NTIA is consulting with states and tribal nations about who should receive the first financial handout, and the final decision about who gets what ultimately will be made by Larry Strickling, NTIA’s assistant secretary, Simpson said.

 

Still, there’s a lot more work to be done by the NTIA to make all the deadlines laid out for distribution of funds, Billing and OSS World reported. Simpson reportedly said she did not know how many rounds remain but said chances are good NTIA will hold just one more.