[1st-mile-nm] Treasury Simplifies and Improves Rules for Rescue Plan Aid for Broadband Networks

[Richard Lowenberg]

Worthwhile to review the entire posting with links via the URL.
Thanks Christopher.

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Treasury Simplifies and Improves Rules for Rescue Plan Aid for Broadband 
Networks

Thu, January 13, 2022 | Posted by Christopher Mitchell

https://muninetworks.org/content/treasury-simplifies-improves-rules-rescue-plan-aid-broadband-networks

Communities across the United States got an unexpected gift from the 
Biden Administration last week in the form of additional flexibility to 
use Rescue Plan funds for needed broadband investments, particularly 
those focused on low-income neighborhoods in urban areas.

When Congress developed and passed the American Rescue Plan Act, it 
tasked the Treasury Department with writing the rules for some key 
programs, including the State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). 
That program is distributing $350 billion to local and state 
governments, which can use it for a variety of purposes that include 
broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion efforts.

Treasury released an Interim Final Rule in May, 2021, detailing how 
local governments would be allowed to invest in broadband. I promptly 
freaked out, at the restrictions and complications that I (and others) 
feared would result in local governments backing away from needed 
broadband investments due to fears of being out of compliance with the 
rule.

After we worked with numerous local leaders and the National League of 
Cities to explain the problems we saw in the proposed rule, Treasury 
released updated guidance in the form of a Q&A document to explain how 
local governments would be able to build and partner for needed 
networks.

(snip)


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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