In August of 2009, IT&E submitted a grant proposal to the United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. As part of its commitment to secure ARRA funding for the Marianas Region, IT&E invested thousands of hours to ensure that the company’s submission would be comprehensive, detail oriented, and address the key objectives of the grant.
On October 7, 2009, in response to NTIA’s requirements, we also presented to a public local selection committee in the CNMI the technical aspects of our project as well as the benefits that our plan would offer the community and additional employment opportunities that would be available as a result of the grant. During the public hearings conducted in Saipan, numerous individuals and institutions, and even grant competitors, provided oral and written testimony in support of IT&E’s grant proposal to improve broadband infrastructure within the entire Marianas Region. Similarly, in Guam, IT&E solicited and received support for its grant proposal from various agencies, anchor institutions and the business community. As part of the grant evaluation, NTIA solicited public comments on all pending grant proposals which were required to be submitted by October 28, 2009. Several comments were received and evaluated by NTIA in response to IT&E’s proposal.
On April 1, 2010, after several months of intense technical review, analysis, consideration of public support, and deliberation of which application merited stimulus funding, NTIA announced that the Marianas Region would receive its share of broadband stimulus funding by endorsing IT&E’s application for an $8 million grant from the Broadband Technologies Opportunity Program.
Over 1,800 grant proposals were submitted to NTIA for consideration and IT&E is proud to be one of the 140 selected for funding and we are very pleased to provide the entire Marianas community with the opportunity to partake in the Broadband Stimulus grant funding which will benefit the overall economies of Guam and the CNMI by providing improved broadband services and creating direct employment opportunities. The success of this effort should be viewed positively and encourage local businesses and government institutions to avail themselves of federal grant opportunities as it benefits the entire Marianas community. The proposed plan will impact more than thirty communities within Guam and Saipan at various levels including economically disadvantaged communities, education, health, and other public agencies.
We would like to thank again the people of the Marianas for their continued support. Si Yu’us Ma’ase and Salamat Po.
LARRY KNECHT
Executive Vice President
IT&E
