Federal Agencies Roll Out Funds for Domestic, International Broadband Efforts

Earlier this week during a keynote address at the United Nations, a U.S. Department of State official unveiled an initiative to bring 1.5 billion people around the world online by 2020. Global Connect, the new initiative, will be a cross-agency effort to make Internet access a top priority in foreign policy. The State Department announcement explicitly states that Internet access is being made a priority because of its role in entrepreneurship, innovation, knowledge flows and market creation. On the domestic front, the White House recently packaged a number of new and existing investments as part of the Smart Cities initiative to build on the country’s broadband infrastructure to leverage the power of big data and become a leader in the emerging “Internet of Things” market.

The State Department effort will have three pillars in its effort to bring the developing world online. Global Connect will encourage all countries to incorporate Internet connectivity as a key part of their development strategies; push international development organizations prioritize digital access; and, support industry-driven solutions. Officials announced that related projects were already underway in Burma and Kenya.

About 60 percent of the world lacks digital access, particularly in developing countries. This has become a greater problem as the Internet has emerged as a key driver of sustainable economic development. The World Bank notes that for every 10 percent increase in a country’s Internet penetration, GDP expands by 1 to 2 percent. The State Department referenced European studies suggesting that tripling mobile broadband penetration in the developing world could provide a 1,700 percent rate of return.

Read the Department of State announcement…

The White House Smart Cities initiative is an attempt to leverage and expand the U.S.s broadband infrastructure to achieve similar returns. More than $160 million in federal funds will be available for research and infrastructure to foster an environment for next-generation broadband technologies. In particular, the funding will be used to make the U.S. competitive in the “Internet of Things” sector, a growing market for devices, sensors and software that communicate without direct human intervention. These interactions can be used to feed the data requirements of modern analytical systems, and could help address a number of policy issues ranging from law enforcement to climate change.

The White House announcement notes that the developing world, with its high population growth and emerging data infrastructure, could be a valuable partner and market for these technologies.

Read the Smart Cities announcement…

For state and local governments outside of the pilot Smart Cities efforts, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has released a guide to federal funding programs for broadband projects. The report is an overview of programs at the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Communications Commission, and others

Read NTIA’s BroadbandUSA: Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects…