NARUC Wants More Funds For NTIA Broadband Oversight

The National Association for Regulatory Utility Commissioners is debating a call on Congress to appropriate more money for oversight of broadband stimulus grants.

As part of the Recovery Act, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Agriculture Department's Rural Utilities Service were charged with distributing $7 billion to foster broadband access and adoption in the United States. The grants have been awarded and NTIA is waiting on Congress to appropriate additional money to oversee the program's grantees. In the draft proposal, NARUC urges Congress to provide additional funds for oversight before December 3rd, when the current funding for this activity expires.