SwampFox

South Carolina Broadband Spectrum and Broadband Stimulus Money

Submitted by: Seph Wunder on Feb 19, 2009 at 9:59 pm Tagged with: Broadband, Education, Entrepreneur, Healthcare, Innovation, Spectrum, Stimulus, Telecommunications, WiFi Source: Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROADBAND SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY

For those who have not heard, the State of South Carolina (the “State”), acting through the South Carolina Educational Broadband Service Commission (“SCEBSC”), has issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to invite proposals to lease excess Educational Broadband Service (“EBS”) spectrum for any and all lawful purposes. The SCEBSC will use a competitive process to obtain proposals from commercial entities for the leasing of the excess spectrum capacity available over EBS licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) to the South Carolina Educational Television Commission (“SCETV”). SCETV acts as the State’s public television and radio network, and it provides educational service via satellite, EBS, broadcast stations and other means.

According to the RFP, respondents would enjoy significant flexibility in providing fixed and mobile services for any and all lawful purposes, consistent with U.S. and International standards, using the technology of their choice. The spectrum can be used for many services, including but not limited to broadband Internet access, multichannel video, voice communications and video conferencing. Services may be offered to consumers, business, public, governmental and educational users. It may also be used to support research and development of fixed or mobile applications.

NOTE: The deadline for submissions is fast approaching.

BROADBAND STIMULUS MONEY

In addition, the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Stimulus) has created a new Broadband Technology Opportunities Program within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) of the Department of Commerce. The new grant program will distribute $4.7 billion to fund the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underseved areas in the country, and to help facilitate broadband use and adoption (in the education, healthcare, and economic development related arenas). An additional $2.5 billion in loans and grants will be administered by the Rural Utilities Service. One of the requirements of the program is that each state must received at least one allocation.

The combination of these two recently announced programs will provide for many very exciting opportunities in the Broadband spectrum. If you would like to know more, please contact Seph Wunder at 864-240-3303 or swunder@hsblawfirm.com.