Mind Commerce Announces Availability of Stimulus Grant Support Package

Denver, CO (PRWEB) June 11, 2009

Mind Commerce LLC and WMX Systems announced today the release of the first in a series of Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) Grant Application Support Packages. The BTOP was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment (Stimulus) Act of 2009 (ARRA 2009) to expand broadband internet access in unserved, underserved or rural markets of the US supporting education, healthcare, public safety and job creation. The program provides almost $4 billion for service providers, state and municipal governments and non-profits to build broadband networks. This is arguably the largest infusion of funding, public or private, for telecommunications in the US since the telecom boom of the late 1990's.

The 380-page package offers exceptional value to anyone seeking to write a BTOP grant application. The BTOP grant application, per the ARRA 2009, shall consist of a) a business plan b) an engineering plan and c) a cost estimate. Washington insiders point to a need for grant applicants to provide specific details as to what broadband technology will be deployed, how it will serve the unserved or underserved community, and what measurable outcomes will be produced with the grant funding. Grant applicants can expect a good deal of scrutiny before and after the any grant and should be adequately prepared.

The Mind Commerce BTOP Grant Application Support Package is not a specific engineering plan or cost estimate. Instead, it provides the following highly valuable documents and representative WiMAX application scenarios:

1.    Template for a BTOP Grant Application Business Plan (85 pages)
2.    WiMAX Business Planning Tool (Excel spreadsheet)
3.    Appendix describing WiMAX in Education (84 pages)
4.    Appendix describing WiMAX in Healthcare (51 pages)
5.    Appendix describing WiMAX in Public Safety (24 pages)
6.    Appendix describing WiMAX in Job Creation (78 pages)
7.    Appendix describing Wireless Middle Mile Infrastructure (35 pages)
8.    Appendix WiMAX Request for Proposal (15 pages)
9.    Appendix Softswitch Request for Proposal (26 pages)

The BTOP is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA, US Department of Commerce). The rules for the grant application and Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) will be announced in late June and the NTIA is expected to begin accepting applications on or about September 01, 2009 for what may be a "first come, first awarded" process. This leaves little time for manpower-restricted grant applicants to properly research and write an innovative and technically detailed grant application. By using the Mind Commerce BTOP Grant Application Support Package, grant applicants and grant writers can save hundreds of man-hours researching and writing innovative, technically detailed, professional grant applications.

Mind Commerce is offering a pre-NOFA special of $1,995 for the entire package. An updated package will be offered post NOFA including a generic broadband package. The template is oriented toward a WiMAX-oriented application. A generic broadband template will follow the release of the NOFA. Pricing and content offered is subject to change once the NTIA releases the NOFA later this month.

More information about the report is available from Mind Commerce at:

BTOP Grant Application Support Package

About Mind Commerce
The Mind Commerce® mission is to provide customized research, consulting, training, and writing services for the telecommunications and IT industry within our areas of expertise. Mind Commerce clients include manufacturers, developers, service providers, industry organizations, and government. Mind Commerce partners include various leading firms in the telecommunications industry. Mind Commerce differentiates itself from its competition by meeting the unique needs of its clients through customized product development and service delivery.

About WMX Systems, LLC
Frank Ohrtman is the president of Denver-based WMX Systems, LLC, a consulting firm founded in 2005 to serve the WiMAX community. WMX Systems has built and operated WiMAX networks in the Denver area and consulted on the deployment of other WiMAX networks around the Western Hemisphere. WMX Systems clients include school districts, national governments and service providers. WMX Systems is currently assisting a number of clients from both the public and private sector in applying for BTOP grants.

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