Publication Type

Journal Article

Book Title/Conference/Journal

Government Information Quarterly

Year

1-2014

Abstract

In 2009, U.S. Congress approved $7.2. billion to accelerate the deployment of advanced broadband networks and services to unserved and underserved regions of the country. Although primarily a short-term response to the economic crisis, the appropriation also indicates a willingness to seek a new balance between private sector and public sector initiatives in the development of the nation's broadband infrastructure. This paper is a first step in assessing the potential impact of the new government initiatives. It discusses in detail one component of the overall program, the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The rationales and objectives of BTOP and its initial implementation are explored. Based on information in the BTOP database, 265 awards were examined to document award types, target communities, applications, technology, and access speeds. Whereas it is too early to assess the initiatives' effects on employment and other important social and economic objectives, it is appropriate to consider whether the awards made under the BTOP program advance a national broadband development agenda. Overall, they appear to. However, the present analysis found that projects focusing on minority populations may have received less emphasis in the BTOP awards than that announced in the stated goals of the program.

Keywords

Broadband, BTOP, Subsidies, United States, Universal service

Disciplines

Communication Technology and New Media | Science and Technology Policy

Subject(s)

Applied or Integration/Application Scholarship

ISSN/ISBN

0740-624X

Publisher

Elsevier

DOI

10.1016/j.giq.2012.11.004

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2012.11.004

Version

acceptedVersion

Language

eng

Format

application/PDF

Download

Share

COinS