* Half of the original $7B is designated for "rural communities" (anyone know the precise definition of that term in this context?)
Usually you need to refer to other bills for explanations and definitions. As you see in the general provisions, the Stimulus refers to the Bureau of Census, It may be easier to get the information directly from the Secretary of Agriculture, or someone who has already use such funds in the past realtive to the rural communities. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE Sec. 101. Funds appropriated by this Act and made available to the United States Department of Agriculture for broadband direct loans and loan guarantees, as authorized under title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) and for grants, shall be available for broadband infrastructure in any area of the United States notwithstanding title VI of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936: Provided, That at least 75 percent of the area served by the projects receiving funds from such grants, loans, or loan guarantees is in a rural area without sufficient access to high speed broadband service to facilitate rural economic development, as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That priority for awarding funds made available under this paragraph shall be given to projects that provide service to the highest proportion of rural residents that do not have sufficient access to broadband service: Provided further, That priority for awarding such funds shall be given to project applications that demonstrate that, if the application is approved, all project elements will be fully funded: Provided further, That priority for awarding such funds shall be given to activities that can commence promptly following approval: Provided further, That the Department shall submit a report on planned spending and actual obligations describing the use of these funds not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter until all funds are obligated, to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Rural Electrification Act of 1936 http://www.usda.gov/rus/regs/info/100-1/title_i.htm SEC. 13. DEFINITIONS.--As used in this Act the term "rural area", except as provided in section 203(b), shall be deemed to mean any area of the United States not included within the boundaries of any urban area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, and such term shall be deemed to include both the farm and nonfarm population thereof; the term "farm" shall be deemed to mean a farm as defined in the publications of the Bureau of the Census, the term "person" shall be deemed to mean any natural person, firm, corporation, or association; the term "Territory" shall be deemed to include any insular possession of the United States; and the term "Secretary" shall be deemed to mean the Secretary of Agriculture. [May 20,1936, ch. 432, Title I, §13, 49 Stat. 1367; Oct. 28,1949, ch. 776, §2, 63 Stat. 948; Nov. 1, 1993, Public Law 103-129, §2(c)(3), 107 Stat. 1363; Oct. 13, 1994, Public Law 103-354, Title II, Subtitle C, §235(a)(6), 108 Stat. 3221; 7 U.S.C.913.] SEC. 203. DEFINITION OF TELEPHONE SERVICE AND RURAL AREA.-(a) As used in this title, the term "telephone service" shall be deemed to mean any communication service for the transmission or reception of voice, data, sounds, signals, pictures, writing, or signs of all kinds by wire, fiber, radio, light, or other visual or electromagnetic means, and shall include all telephone lines, facilities, or systems used in the rendition of such service; but shall not be deemed to mean message telegram service or community antenna television system services or facilities other than those intended exclusively for educational purposes, or radio broadcasting services or facilities within the meaning of section 3(o) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. (b) As used in this title, the term "rural area" shall be deemed to mean any area of the United States not included within the boundaries of any incorporated or unincorporated city, village, or borough having a population in excess of 5000 inhabitants. [Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 776, §5, 63 Stat. 948; Oct. 23, 1962, Public Law 87-862, 76 Stat. 1140; Nov. 28, 1990, Public Law 101-624, Title XXIII, Subtitle F, ch. 2, §2354, 104 Stat. 4039; Nov. 1, 1993, Public Law 103-129, §2(c)(5), 107 Stat. 1364; 7 U.S.C. 924.] Frank Muto ----- Original Message ----- From: "David E. Smith" <d...@mvn.net> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11:23 AM Subject: [WISPA] Let's talk about that "stimulus" some more! >I made a copy of the stimulus bill's complete text, just so you don't > have to go searching through the Library of Congress database to find it > (not that it's hard to do), here: http://images.bureau42.com/sa/stimulus.htm > > This is the version that both the House and Senate have passed, and > which will almost certainly be signed by President Obama today. > > You find the most interesting things just by keyword-searching for > "broadband...." > > * The mad money totals an even seven billion dollars, which is only > "available" until September 2010. > * The Department of Agriculture, who have been somewhat friendly to > WISPs in the past, appears to get control of most of that money. > * Half of the original $7B is designated for "rural communities" (anyone > know the precise definition of that term in this context?) > * Within one year, the FCC is mandated to "complete a rulemaking to > develop a national broadband plan." > > > /* There will be a new IRS tax credit for broadband: 10% of your > expenses if you provide "current-generation" service (which means 5Mbps > down/1Mbps up for wireline, 3Mbps down/768kbps up for wireless), 20% for > "next-generation" service (100Mbps down/20Mbps up, regardless of > medium), for gear deployed between 1/1/09 and 12/31/11./ Remember to say > please and thank-you to your accountant. > > Even if you don't like taking grant money, think it's inappropriate for > the government to give it away, whatever, the tax credit looks promising. > > David Smith > MVN.net > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! 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