As many of you may know, the deadline for broadband stimulus applications was last Thursday, August 20.  You may also be aware that Towerstream has officially applied for the program.

What’s our goal?  As I’ve mentioned in several prior posts, rural areas, while in need, are not the only parts of this country that are underserved.  There are areas in and around major cities that don’t have adequate Internet access which stunts the growth of businesses. 

We’re looking to extend our coverage to these areas and ensure that businesses of all sizes have access to high-speed, reliable and cost effective broadband. 

Should we receive funding, the project will create thousands of jobs and will help these previously underserved organizations become more productive and competitive.  How quickly will this happen?  If we were to get funded today, we would begin hiring people to support the project and begin work on networks tomorrow. 

I should also note that Towerstream does not need this funding to continue growing and delivering service effectively – our business remains strong.  However, we’re hopeful that we’ll receive funding and “put the petal to the metal” on our expansion, reaching the businesses that need us most, more quickly. 

I’d also like to take a moment to thank my colleagues at Towerstream for their hard work in the past few weeks preparing for and submitting our applications.  The final result was something I think we can all be proud of. 

If you have any questions or comments about the stimulus program and application process, I’d love to hear them.