Update Regarding New Jersey Libraries and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

Representatives from the New Jersey State Library have been serving on the Statewide Broadband Planning and Coordination Committee, which is being lead by Adel Abeid, CTO of the State of New Jersey Office of Information Technology (OIT). This committee, working with Kimball Associates, a consulting company that was chosen by OIT, is charged with providing input related to a statewide proposal to improve broadband connectivity in New Jersey. The proposal will be submitted by August 14 and will seek to obtain funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and, more specifically, through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Although we have yet to see an actual draft of this proposal, the information we have obtained to date suggests that most public libraries will not be direct beneficiaries if this proposal is successful. More details will be provided once we see the actual OIT proposal.

The State Library continues to work with other organizations that are planning to submit proposals for BTOP funds and is making every effort to ensure that public libraries will be included as beneficiaries in these proposals. We will also be convening a statewide library committee which will form strategy for submitting a library-specific proposal for broadband funding and public computing centers. In addition, the State Library is able to serve as a resource for individual libraries or groups of libraries that are planning to submit their own proposals. In order to avoid duplication of effort, and to ensure that planned proposals are aligned with overall state and library goals, we ask that you contact us if your library is in the process of formulating a proposal for BTOP funds.

Again, we will be providing additional information as it becomes available. In the meantime, please contact Rob Zangara should you have any questions or concerns regarding BTOP planning, or if you wish to share your current plan or proposal.

For more information regarding the BTOP, please visit http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/

Contact: Rob Zangara -- rzangara@PROTECTED -- (609) 278-2640

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