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US Seeks Volunteers To Review Broadband Grant Applications

Posted by timothy on from the low-expertise-worries-me-less-than-poor-incentives dept.

BobB-nw writes with this excerpt from Network World: "The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration, scheduled to distribute $4.7 billion in broadband deployment grants over the next 15 months, will count on volunteers to review grant applications. The NTIA, in a document released this week, asks for people to apply to become volunteer reviewers of the broadband grants. The NTIA's broadband grant program is part of $7.2 billion that the US Congress approved for broadband in a huge economic stimulus package approved earlier this year. ... It's 'a little scary' that volunteers will have the power to accept and reject broadband applications, said Craig Settles, an analyst and president of consulting firm Successful.com. Volunteers may have limited expertise, or they may have biases that aren't evident to the NTIA, he said."

8 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. Many eyes... by TropicalCoder · · Score: 3, Funny

    Post each application on Slashdot and we'll all vote on it.

    1. Re:Many eyes... by iamhigh · · Score: 2, Funny

      What in a poll... on /.? Every application (and probably two or three times) will be decided by what option has Cowboy Neal associated with it!!!

      --
      No comprende? Let me type that a little slower for you...
    2. Re:Many eyes... by oneirophrenos · · Score: 2, Funny

      Post each application on Slashdot and we'll all vote on it.

      That would probably lead to CowboyNeal getting all the money...

    3. Re:Many eyes... by Minwee · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't be insane! They can't have technically minded, well informed people making decisions!

      Okay, have it your way. We'll post the applications on Digg instead.

    4. Re:Many eyes... by KevinKnSC · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or at least some wicked-fast broadband.

  2. Bedtime Story by BigBlueOx · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Who will help me approve these broadband requests?", said the Big Red Government.

    "I will! I will!", said the Comcast manager.
    "I will! I will!", said the Time Warner CEO's wife.
    "I will! I will!", said Rupert Murdoch's 2nd cousin.

    And they did.

  3. There's a reason analysts have big opinions by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's 'a little scary' that volunteers will have the power to accept and reject broadband applications, said Craig Settles, an analyst and president of consulting firm Successful.com

    It's a little scary that someone who runs something called "Successful.com" is considered credible enough to quote.

  4. Re:Democracy can be a little scary... by cellurl · · Score: 2, Funny

    I just wanted to flood their inbox.
    I applied with feds to help with the DTV switch last month as well.
    'Didn't even get a phone call...