FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2009
TIA Applauds NTIA and RUS for Releasing Initial BTOP and BIP Funding
TIA Calls Funding Awards 'Vital First Step' in Building Broadband Network Infrastructure to Unserved and Underserved Areas and Furthering Economic Recovery
Washington, D.C. – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leader in advocacy, standards development, business development and intelligence for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, lauded Vice President Joe Biden's announcement of $182 million in federal funding for broadband projects from the first funding round of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) Broadband Telecommunications Opportunity Program (BTOP) and the Rural Utilities Service's (RUS) Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP).
"Vice President Biden's announcement marks a vital first step in getting BTOP and BIP funding to worthy projects that will extend the availability and adoption of broadband services," said TIA President Grant Seiffert. "The $182 million in broadband stimulus funds are a welcome beginning to an awards process we hope is swift and effective in getting broadband to unserved and underserved communities," Seiffert continued. "We have been pleased to work with the NTIA and RUS in helping to shape the policies and procedures of the BTOP and BIP application and award process, and appreciate their efforts in making these awards. TIA hopes that the rest of the BIP and BTOP funding – both from the first and second funding rounds – are allocated very quickly; the economic engine of broadband deployment and adoption will further speed our nation's recovery once greater amounts of BTOP and BIP funding get out the door."
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About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. With roots dating back to 1924, TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.
TIA co-owns the SUPERCOMM® tradeshow and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.
TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS, ADC, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Avaya, Bechtel Communications, Inc., Cisco Systems, Corning Incorporated, Ericsson, Inc., GENBAND, Inc., Graybar, Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., and Verari Systems. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates, Orca Systems and Telcordia Technologies.
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