<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:p="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:powerpoint" xmlns:a="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:access" xmlns:dt="uuid:C2F41010-65B3-11d1-A29F-00AA00C14882" xmlns:s="uuid:BDC6E3F0-6DA3-11d1-A2A3-00AA00C14882" xmlns:rs="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:rowset" xmlns:z="#RowsetSchema" xmlns:b="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:publisher" xmlns:ss="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spreadsheet" xmlns:c="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:component:spreadsheet" xmlns:odc="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:odc" xmlns:oa="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:activation" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:q="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:rtc="http://microsoft.com/officenet/conferencing" xmlns:D="DAV:" xmlns:Repl="http://schemas.microsoft.com/repl/" xmlns:mt="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/meetings/" xmlns:x2="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/excel/2003/xml" xmlns:ppda="http://www.passport.com/NameSpace.xsd" xmlns:ois="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/ois/" xmlns:dir="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/directory/" xmlns:ds="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#" xmlns:dsp="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/dsp" xmlns:udc="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:sub="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/2002/1/alerts/" xmlns:ec="http://www.w3.org/2001/04/xmlenc#" xmlns:sp="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/" xmlns:sps="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:udcs="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc/soap" xmlns:udcxf="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc/xmlfile" xmlns:udcp2p="http://schemas.microsoft.com/data/udc/parttopart" xmlns:wf="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/workflow/" xmlns:dsss="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/digsig-setup" xmlns:dssi="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/digsig" xmlns:mdssi="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/package/2006/digital-signature" xmlns:mver="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns:mrels="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/package/2006/relationships" xmlns:spwp="http://microsoft.com/sharepoint/webpartpages" xmlns:ex12t="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/services/2006/types" xmlns:ex12m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/services/2006/messages" xmlns:pptsl="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/soap/SlideLibrary/" xmlns:spsl="http://microsoft.com/webservices/SharePointPortalServer/PublishedLinksService" xmlns:Z="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:" xmlns:st="&#1;" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">

<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<style>
<!--
 /* Font Definitions */
 @font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Verdana;
        panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
 /* Style Definitions */
 p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:11.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:purple;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0in;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle18
        {mso-style-type:personal;
        font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
        color:windowtext;}
span.sectionhead1
        {mso-style-name:sectionhead1;
        font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
        color:#660066;
        font-weight:bold;
        font-style:normal;
        text-decoration:none none;}
span.EmailStyle20
        {mso-style-type:personal;
        font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
        color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle23
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
        color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-size:10.0pt;}
@page Section1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
        {page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
  <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
 </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>

<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>

<div class=Section1>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear
V2020 readers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Here&#8217;s
some national news from your local ISP.&nbsp; Thank you for all your support. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Mike
Hall<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>First
Step Internet<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Area
Sales Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>208-882-8869
Ext. 540<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>http://www.fsr.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>mikech@fsr.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National
Telecommunications and Information Administration announced funding today for a
multi-user regional broadband network submitted by First Step Internet.&nbsp;
This project is part of the broadband provision in the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act.&nbsp; The multi-user regional broadband network backbone is
designed to expand capacity to businesses, residents, schools, libraries,
hospitals , safety agencies and medical facilities throughout several un-served
and under-served areas and communities in the Counties of Latah, Nez Perce,
Lewis, Idaho and Clearwater, potentially impacting 21,228 households over
13,125 square miles.&nbsp; The total grant amount is $2.92 million.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The network
that First Step Internet will build includes a 200 megabit per second FCC
licensed microwave network spanning the 5 counties listed above, with fiber
connections in Moscow and Lewiston.&nbsp; The network will provide high speed
Internet access, site to site network inter-connectivity, access to the Idaho
Regional Optical Network and other broadband services.&nbsp; Applications could
include a virtual highway to connect regional schools to the Idaho Education
Network as well as regional hospitals to one another for Telemental health
video-conferencing and other online services.&nbsp; The positive impact on
education, health care and access to critical information services will be
substantial.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Christine
Frei, Executive Director of the Clearwater Economic Development Association
states: <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>&#8220;CEDA can
think of no other infrastructure project completed in the past 10 years that
has as great of impact for improving the climate for economic growth in
communities than the First Step project. This project will address at least 80%
of our goals to create an open, multi-user network in rural North Central
Idaho.&#8221;<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>&#8220;The
University of Idaho -- with its statewide research, distance education video,
community outreach, economic development and agriculture extension interests --
supports expansion of high bandwidth connectivity to the much underserved, low
income and rural region of north-central Idaho,&#8221; said Jack McIver, vice
president of research and economic development at the University of Idaho.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Paul Kimmel
of Avista Corporation: &#8220;Infrastructure matters. Because high-quality
telecommunications networks &#8211; especially regional broadband in under-served
areas, are critical to moving ideas, innovation and digital commerce quickly
and efficiently. Avista is pleased to help support this important project.&#8221;<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contributors
to the required matching for the project include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CEDA -
Clearwater Economic Development Association <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>IRON - Idaho
Regional Optical Network <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>University of
Idaho<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Avista
Corporation<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>First Step
Internet<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Other
strategic partnerships on the project include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Nez Perce
Tribe<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CCEDC -
Clearwater County Economic Development Council <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>NCITC -
North-Central Idaho Telecommunication Consortium <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2010/BTOPGrants_03252010.html">http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press/2010/BTOPGrants_03252010.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><span class=sectionhead1><span style='font-size:
9.5pt'>SECRETARY LOCKE ANNOUNCES RECOVERY ACT INVESTMENTS TO EXPAND BROADBAND
INTERNET ACCESS AND SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH </span></span><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></strong><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><br>
Thursday, March 25, 2010<br>
<br>
News Media Contact:<br>
Shannon Gilson, (202) 482-4883, <a href="mailto:sgilson@doc.gov">sgilson@doc.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>WASHINGTON &#8211; U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced 10
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to help bridge the
technological divide, boost economic growth, create jobs, and improve education
and healthcare across the country. The investments, totaling more than $63
million in grants, will increase broadband access and adoption in more than a
dozen states. The grants will fund projects that lay the groundwork to bring
enhanced high-speed Internet access to thousands of households and businesses
and link hundreds of schools, hospitals, libraries, and public safety offices
to the information superhighway.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>&quot;In a globalized 21st century economy, when you don&#8217;t have
regular access to high-speed Internet, you don&#8217;t have access to all the
educational, business and employment opportunities it provides,&quot; Locke
said. &quot;These critical Recovery Act investments will create jobs and lay
the groundwork for long-term sustainable economic growth in communities across
America.&quot;<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>The Department of Commerce&#8217;s National Telecommunications and
Information Administration&#8217;s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
(BTOP), funded by the Recovery Act, provides grants to support the deployment
of broadband infrastructure, enhance and expand public computer centers, and
encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. &quot;The level of
interest in this program has been extraordinary, and is yet another indicator
of the critical role broadband plays in achieving durable, sustainable economic
growth,&quot; Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA
Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling said. &quot;Like the grants announced
today, the strongest proposals are the ones that have taken a truly
comprehensive view of the communities to be served and have engaged as many key
members of the communities as possible in developing the projects.&quot;<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><em><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>The following grants were announced today:</span></em><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah - Navajo
Tribal Utility Authority: $32.2 million</span></strong><span style='font-size:
7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> broadband infrastructure
grant with an additional $13.8 million applicant-provided match to bring
highspeed affordable broadband services to the Navajo Nation by deploying 550
miles of new aerial fiber-optic cable and 59 new or modified microwave towers
covering 15,000 square miles in three states. The proposed service area has
rugged terrain and significant poverty, and more than 60 percent of residents
lack basic telephone service. The project expects to directly connect 49
Chapter Houses, which serve as community centers for the Navajo population, at
speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps. Last-mile wireless services will be offered at
speeds between 1 and 3 Mbps through the project&#8217;s wireless partner, Commnet
Wireless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas - Mission
Economic Development Agency: $3.7 million</span></strong><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> public
computer center grant with an additional $2.5 million applicant-provided match
to create 12 new public computer centers and expand five existing ones in
Phoenix, Ariz.; Canoga Park, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, Calif.; Del Norte,
Colo.; Blackfoot, Idaho; Wheaton, Md.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Kansas City, Mo.;
Anthony, NM; Philadelphia, Pa.; and San Antonio and Laredo, Texas. Each center
expects to operate on the project&#8217;s centrally managed network and provide
computer training and adult education to a low broadband adoption, high
unemployment target population through a standardized English-Spanish training
curriculum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Idaho - First Step Internet: $2.4 million</span></strong><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>
broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $600,000 applicant-provided
match to build a regional network of 10 microwave towers to extend
high-capacity Internet service in the rural counties of Latah, Idaho,
Clearwater, Lewis, and Nez Perce in north-central Idaho. The project intends to
directly connect 42 anchor institutions, including healthcare facilities,
emergency response agencies, libraries, and government offices, as well as
institutions serving the Nez Perce Tribe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Illinois - City of Chicago: $7 million</span></strong><span
style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>
sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $2.3 million
applicant-provided match to spur economic development in five disadvantaged
neighborhoods in Chicago with a comprehensive broadband awareness and adoption
program that will include providing computers and training opportunities to
more than 11,000 residents and 500 small businesses and not-for-profits. The
project intends to create public computer centers at six community centers for
working families and expand workstation capacity at four Business Resource
Centers, as well as provide 1,500 residents and small businesses that complete
a multi-session training course with laptops and netbooks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Minnesota - C.K. Blandin Foundation: $4.9
million</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> sustainable broadband adoption grant with an additional $1.5
million applicant-provided match to launch the Minnesota Intelligent Rural
Communities initiative, a multi-sector, comprehensive approach to sustainable
broadband adoption targeting residents, small businesses, local governments,
and critical services providers in each of Minnesota&#8217;s 80 rural counties. The
project anticipates training as many as 2,500 individuals in computer literacy,
online education, and workforce development, and plans to distribute 1,000
affordable refurbished computers. Funding will also support the development of
institutional broadband applications for schools and healthcare facilities to
help increase broadband adoption.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>North Carolina - Fayetteville State
University: $1 million</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> public computer center grant with an
additional $263,000 applicant-provided match to provide 30 new computer
workstations, wireless Internet access, and training courses at a new public
computer center for the Fayetteville, North Carolina, community, including
residents of local public housing. The project will include courses on Internet
basics, personal finance and health, and basic job skills. The first 50 users
to complete all of these courses will receive a laptop computer for home use.
This project will be led by Fayetteville State University, a Historically Black
University, in partnership with the Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority
and other organizations that will provide training targeted to the needs of
low-income persons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Ohio and Pennsylvania - Zito Media Communications:
$6.1 million</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $1.5 million
applicant-provided match to create a 382-mile fiber ring with 10 gigabits of
capacity through the counties of Geauga, Ashtabula, and Trumbull in
Northeastern Ohio, and the counties of Erie, Crawford, and Mercer in
Northwestern Pennsylvania. The project plans to deploy 342 miles of new fiber
and 40 miles of leased fiber to directly connect an estimated 60 community
anchor institutions at speeds from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps, including hospitals,
schools, public safety agencies, colleges, and libraries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Vermont - Vermont Council on Rural
Development: $2.5 million</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'> sustainable broadband adoption
grant with an additional $1.2 million applicant-provided match to increase
broadband Internet access and adoption in 24 small, mostly rural communities
through a comprehensive effort combining broadband training, access, awareness,
and planning. The Vermont Council on Rural Development and its project partners
plan to train more than 1,800 individuals and distribute an estimated 1,200
computers to 4th and 5th grade students, as well as work with teachers to
integrate broadband usage into lesson plans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Virginia - Nelson County of Virginia: $1.8
million</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $457,000
applicant-provided match to enhance and expand broadband Internet services in
areas of rural Nelson County, Virginia by deploying 31 miles of new fiber and
four new wireless tower sites, and directly connecting 13 community anchor
institutions. The anchor institutions receiving direct connections to the new
network are expected to include seven county government facilities, four K-12
schools, a library, and the Blue Ridge Medical Center.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Virginia - Page County Broadband Authority:
$1.6 million</span></strong><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'> broadband infrastructure grant with an additional $412,000
applicant-provided match to deploy a 39-mile fiber network that will serve the
four principal towns in Page County, Virginia, a rural and underserved area in
the Shenandoah region of Western Virginia. The network expects to directly
connect 29 anchor institutions including, 11 K-12 schools, three libraries, six
healthcare facilities, Lord Fairfax Community College, and eight public safety
institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>NTIA received more than 1,800 applications proposing projects
totaling nearly $19 billion during the first BTOP funding round and is
currently awarding grants on a rolling basis. NTIA just received a second round
of applications in the BTOP Sustainable Broadband Adoption and Public Computer
Center grant categories, and is currently accepting applications in the BTOP
Comprehensive Community Infrastructure grant category through March 26, 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p style='line-height:9.5pt'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided a total of $7.2
billion to NTIA and the Department of Agriculture&#8217;s Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) to fund projects that will expand access to and adoption of broadband
services. NTIA will utilize $4.7 billion of that funding for grants to deploy
broadband infrastructure in the United States, expand public computer center
capacity, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. NTIA will
announce all grant awards by September 30, 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</div>

</body>

</html>