We have seen threads on 'the myth of government inefficiency and we have read about the political quagmire of California’s high-speed rail project.
As part of the 2021 infrastructure bill $42 billion was allocated to provide broadband access to rural areas. So far there have been zero connections.
In a podcast, NYT writer Ezra Kline explains to Jon Stewart (who slowly loses his mind) the process. The video follows this transcript.
We have to issue the notice for opportunity for 180 days; that’s step one. Step two, which all 56 applicants completed, is for states who want to participate must submit a letter of intent.
After they do that they can submit a request of up to $5 million in planning grants. Then the NTIA [National Telecommunication and Information Administration] step four, has to review and approve and award planning grants – not broadband grants but planning grants.
Alright, so the NTIA must issue a request, states who are going to participate must submit their letter of intent and request of planning money. All 56 applicants have passed through step five.
Step five: States must submit a five-year action plan. They go back, think about how they are going to do this. And they don’t just say “Thank you for the money. We’re going to spend it, and you can see how it worked out later.”
Then the FCC must publish the broadband data maps before the NTIA allocates funds. Having done all of the above, the Federal government has to put forward a map saying where it thinks be need rural broadband subsidies, and then the states need an opportunity to challenge the map for accuracy. You can imagine this doesn’t all happen in a day.
So then the NTIA, step seven, has to use the FCC maps to make allocation decisions.
Then, having already done their letter of intent, their request for planning grants – I think this one is actually quite amazing – step eight is the states must submit an initial proposal to the NTIA.
Step nine: NTIA must review and approve each state’s initial proposal.
Step 10: States must publish their own maps and allow internal challenges.
I want to say something because it’s very important I say this. This is how liberal government works now. This is a bill, passed by Democrats, with a regulatory structure written by a Democratic administration.
Step 11: The NTIA must review and approve the challenge results and the final map. We’ve lost nine of the applicants at this point.
Step 12: States must run a competitive sub-granting process. We have now lost 17 more applicants, so 30 out of 56 have completed step 12.
Step 13: States must submit a final proposal, and we are down to three out of 56.
Step 14: The NTIA must review and approve the state’s final proposal. In summary, states are nearly at the finish line.
DB2
