Posted December 18th, 2009 by seanm
Note: Access Humboldt is an active member of the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition
http://shlbc.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Windhausen, coordinator
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition
jwindhausen@telepoly.com; (202) 256-9616
or: Sean McLaughlin, SHLB Coalition member
sean@accesshumboldt.net; (202) 495-0616
Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) Coalition
Statement regarding broadband stimulus funding announcement
Washington & Eureka, December 17 – The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) Coalition, a group of schools, libraries, health care providers and private sector companies promoting the deployment of high-capacity broadband facilities to these anchor institutions, released the following statement today in response to the White House’s announcement of first round of Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) awards.
"The Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition is extremely pleased that the Obama Administration has recognized the need for community anchor institutions to have high-capacity broadband connections,” John Windhausen, coordinator of the SHLB Coalition, said.
“Today's funding awards reflect the urgent need for high-capacity Internet access in our schools, libraries and health care institutions. The SHLB Coalition has demonstrated that building such high-capacity connections will stimulate jobs and provide enormous benefits to the entire community. We are pleased to see that the Obama Administration recognizes that funding long-lasting high-capacity Middle Mile projects to anchor institutions is the most efficient use of government dollars and the most effective way to spur the deployment of broadband to all Americans, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged."
Sean McLaughlin of Access Humboldt added, "Federal broadband stimulus funding so far indicates support for innovative collaborations that are designed to meet local needs by serving community anchor institutions - and this bodes very well for the Digital Redwoods initiative on the North Coast of California." More information about Digital Redwoods is online at http://digitalredwoods.net.
The SHLB Coalition was formed on June 11, 2009, to support the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that specifically call for improved access to broadband by community anchor institutions. The SHLB Coalition works actively with the Obama Administration, with Capitol Hill, and with the Federal Communications Commission to formulate policies that will promote the availability of broadband services to schools, libraries and health care clinics and hospitals all across the country. More information on the coalition can be found at: http://www.shlbc.org/.
