Good response for broadband funding applications

MEDIA STATEMENT

13 October 2008

For immediate release

Good response to call for broadband funding applications

The Ministry of Economic Development has reported a strong response to the government’s call for applications to the Broadband Investment Fund (BIF). Applications closed at the end of September.

Many community groups worked with suppliers and local government to signal their interest in being involved in BIF programmes.

“We received 19 full applications and 56 expressions of interest,” said the newly appointed BIF Programme Manager, Tim Watton. “Our initial assessment shows a good geographical spread covering cities, provincial and rural areas – including a number of remote islands.”*

A series of Local Government New Zealand-sponsored workshops was held around the country in September for those intending to submit applications. There was good feedback on the application process.

Applicants had the choice of filing full applications or expressions of interest (EOIs) by the end of September. Decisions on full applications are due in early December. Those submitting EOIs will hear at the end of October whether they will be invited to submit a full application. They need to file their full applications by late February 2009, and will hear the result in May.

The names of organisations that have been invited to submit a full application will be posted at www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz as soon as those organisations have been informed.

* Of the total of 19 full applications, 7 cover urban areas and 12 rural; of the 56 EOIs, 14 cover urban areas, 39 rural, 2 a combination and 1 is undefined.

ENDS

© Scoop Media