buy american and broadband « Tech/Policy/Advisory

In a notice published on June 26, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is in charge of distributing nearly $5 million of the $7.2 million broadband stimulus initiative, announced an “exception” to the directive that American companies be given preference in receiving broadband stimulus funding.

The Secretary of Commerce has granted a “limited waiver” of the Buy American provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 “with respect to certain broadband equipment that will be used in projects funded under [the broadband stimulus program,” NTIA said...