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The federal agencies charged with administering the broadband stimulus program this week made it official: There will be just one more funding round, not two as initially discussed.

 

Lawrence E. Strickling, assistant secretary for communications and information and administrator of NTIA, said the decision was made as a result of the agencies’ desire to distribute the money, and thus create jobs, at a faster pace. Strickling had recently indicated that NTIA and RUS might combine the second and third rounds for these reasons.

 

The rules for the second round of funding have yet to be decided, but the FCC (News - Alert), NTIA and RUS have made clear they will take what was learned during the first round to fine-tune the rules in the upcoming round. New rules will be laid out in a new Notice of Funds Availability document, which the agencies have indicated will be issued early next year after they receive and review public comment on recommended changes.

 

Meanwhile, first round applicants are anxiously awaiting news on who will receive funding during round one. The awardees were initially expected to be announced by this month, but the current plan is for first round winners to be announced in mid December.