NTIA needs your help

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Dear Colleagues,

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriated $7.2 billion  
and directed the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service  
(RUS) and The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications  
Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to  
unserved and underserved communities across the U.S., increase jobs,  
spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long- 
term economic benefits.

NTIA needs your help! NTIA is urgently asking the community to sign up  
to be reviewers, on a first-come first-serve basis, for the first  
round of grant applications to its Broadband Technologies  
Opportunities Program (BTOP). Applications for this first round of  
BTOP funding will be accepted from July 14 through August 14, 2009.  
Panel reviews will be done at least through the end of September.  
Please see the attached for what NTIA is looking for and how to sign  
up to be a reviewer.

Why should you help? This is an important national initiative that has  
potential to provide greatly enhanced network connectivity of  
tremendous value to research and educational institutions acting as  
community anchors. As members of the NSF CISE and OCI community, you  
have a great deal of experience with reviewing grant proposals and  
many of you have the requisite technical experience and expertise.  
Please consider helping, as high quality reviewers from our community  
will help ensure that these funds are well invested for our future.

For further details about the Administration’s initiative to bring  
broadband to this nation, please see:

Biden's announcement
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Vice-President-Biden-Launches-Initiative-to-Bring-Broadband-Jobs-to-More-Americans/

Register for Workshops
https://www.badgeguys.com/reg/2009/julyworkshops2009/register.aspx

General Info (looks sketchy, but click on the NOFA link for a load of  
details)
http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/index.htm

Thank you very much,

Jeannette M. Wing, Assistant Director, Computer and Information  
Science and Engineering Directorate
Ed Seidel, Office Director, Office of Cyber Infrastructure
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 10, 2009
Call for Reviewers
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Help America Advance its National Objective of Broadband Access for All

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)  
of the U.S. Department of Commerce is soliciting experts to evaluate  
grant proposals for the $4.7 billion Broadband Technology  
Opportunities Program (BTOP), an important part of the American  
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

NTIA is accepting applications for its first round of BTOP grants from  
July 14, 2009 until August 14, 2009, and will conduct panel reviews  
through at least the end of September, 2009. As a reviewer, your  
evaluations will be an important factor considered by NTIA in  
determining whether to award grant funding. To be considered as a  
reviewer you must have significant expertise and experience in at  
least one of the following areas: 1) the design, funding,  
construction, and operation of broadband networks or public computer  
centers; 2) broadband-related outreach, training, or education; and 3)  
innovative programs to increase the demand for broadband services. In  
addition you must agree to comply with Department of Commerce policies  
on conflict of interest and confidentiality.

We are committed to ensuring that reviewers come from diverse  
backgrounds and areas of the United States. Please feel free to  
circulate this “Call for Reviewers” to other individuals or  
organizations that may be sources of qualified reviewers.

To apply to be a panel reviewer for BTOP, please email a resume  
containing the information below to BTOPReviewers () ntia doc gov:
Name
Residence (city and state)
Email/phone number
Employer
Position/Title
Years and types of experience and positions in fields related to BTOP  
activities

NTIA will examine and approve reviewer applications on a first-come,  
first-served basis. Approved reviewers will be contacted to schedule  
participation in a webinar orientation session and teleconference  
panel reviews.

Although there will be no direct reimbursement for your time and  
expertise, you may be assured that you will be making a significant  
contribution to enhancing broadband services throughout the United  
States. We appreciate the valuable contribution you will be making to  
the success of BTOP and look forward to working with you as a  
reviewer. If you have questions, please send them by email to: BTOPReviewers () ntia doc gov 
. For additional information, please see http://www.broadbandusa.

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