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Various industry groups in recent days have voiced their opinions about the broadband stimulus effort to date and provided their input on how the rules might be tweaked for the second and final round.

 

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association has reportedly asked that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service to delay broadband stimulus awards until March to give them more time to study and fix the “known flaws” in the rules.

 

Walter McCormick, president of the U.S. Telecom Association (News - Alert), earlier this week issued comments noting the first round broadband stimulus rules forced many of the country’s largest and most experienced broadband providers to the sidelines. As part of the USTelecom (News - Alert) filing, he recommended that revised broadband stimulus rules should focus on targeting unserved areas of the country, ensuring the most efficient use of limited taxpayer dollars and modifying program rules to increase the pool of experienced providers who are able to participate in the national effort.

 

 “We are hopeful that now — with the wisdom of experience — we can make some changes that allow more of the broadband community to contribute and help achieve the important goals set by Congress to create jobs and spark economic growth by expanding the availability of broadband,” he said.

 

And the Telecommunications Industry Association (News - Alert) is asking the federal agencies involved in the broadband stimulus program to focus on last mile and sustainable adoption programs.

 

In its filing, TIA (News - Alert) recommended that: "The RUS and NTIA should not scale back funding for last mile projects or sustainable adoption projects, since this would severely limit the ability of applicants to deliver last mile connectivity to households and entities identified in the ARRA and consumers' adoption (use) of this broadband availability. Last mile projects and sustainable adoption projects targeted to households in the areas served by such funding (as well as underserved households) can significantly spur middle mile broadband infrastructure development; if last mile or sustainable adoption funding is limited, investments in middle mile projects will likely decrease. Continuing to fund last mile projects, anchor institutions regardless of their location, and sustainable adoption projects (targeted to unserved and underserved households) will best meet the ARRA's goals."