[1st-mile-nm] USDA's Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grants: Briefing

[John Badal]

Good analysis.  As you say, the grant won't cover more than 20% for broadband infrastructure development, so this appears better suited for schools' development of online education programming and for medical facilities' telemedicine applications.  Additionally, the guidelines require that the applicant  be the owner of the broadband facilities and equipment covered by the grant, which seems to further dissuade ISPs from applying.  This scheme would work best, however, if a school applies for the grant and partners with an ISP for broadband delivery over facilities operated by the ISP but owned by the applicant. 

John

-----Original Message-----
From: 1st-mile-nm <1st-mile-nm-bounces at mailman.dcn.org> On Behalf Of Richard Lowenberg
Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 1:31 PM
To: 1st-mile Nm <1st-mile-nm at mailman.dcn.org>
Subject: [1st-mile-nm] USDA's Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grants: Briefing

Subject	USDA's Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grants: 
considerable work, limited compensation, problematic rewards

 From	Sol SaguaroAdd contact
To	1st-mile-nm at mailman.dcn.org
Date	Tue 15:05
	I earlier today attended a 90-minute USDA online briefing re its Round
2 Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants.

	What I heard was both encouraging and disheartening. Encouraging, because any money is precious for these purposes.  And applying is pretty easy.  Discouraging, because as usual with federal government grants, It's a case of them's that has is them's that gets.

	The grants, ranging from $50K to $1MM, can be used for onsite tech (computers, local networking and inside wiring, various devices for learning, possibly software) and possibly as compensation for working with these devices (i.e., teaching).

	But only 20% of an award can be used for broadband facilities.  And the applicant must provide a 15% match to the final award.  So in a roundabout way, if the applicant needs broadband service, he, she, or it — an organization or consortium — must expect no more than a net 5% of an award to acquire broadband infrastructure and service.  Unless I'm missing something.

	If you already have such infrastructure and/or service and a sufficient degree of "rurality," you can get more spendable funding for application projects.

	Consultants need not apply, as they are considered "vendors" and vendors cannot be compensated.  Guess you have to get hired or consult 
out of the goodness your heart.   To the question, "What about 
overlapping or adjacent jurisdictions each applying for a grant?", the response was, "Why would that be a problem?  Wouldn't you just work together?"  These are definitely ag folks, cooperative barn-lifters, not educators or medicos.

	The skinny is, applying for a USDA grant will require quite a lot of work in the short time afforded — the deadline for applications is early July — for relatively small reward. You might run into the problems above.  Or simply you might end up as number 101 on a list of 100 awardees.  Once the program money allotted — I believe $25MM, about enough to buy one wing of a jet fighter —  is gone, it's gone.  Good to know Uncle Sugar keeps rural America in his heart.

	Should you be interested in the program, go here:  
https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalmeetwebinar.webcasts.com%2Fviewer%2Flanding.jsp%3Fei%3D1306301%26tp_key%3De28476ff16&data=01%7C01%7Cjbadal%40sacredwindnm.com%7Ce51c22d62e5d432ebba008d7f1f4db17%7C1458a946b06346cbbe2752dbe35fba15%7C0&sdata=GitniLU98E7NBX4iapxSNpEclPItPebFBi0tEm5zFZ8%3D&reserved=0
where a recording of the webinar and slides will be posted.  There are also links to the program handbook and an ESRI rurality map.

	Personally, I'll work with our local school district — pro bono if necessary — if the Supe wants to apply, because he's a good guy and the kids can benefit from more resources.  But this program is hardly a Covid-19-like bailout.  And our town and its schools still won't have broadband.

	Solly, Somewhere in Rural AZ (ESRI-approved)
	sol.saguaro at gmail.com


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
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