NTIA delivers for vendors on Buy American restrictions

On Friday, July 26, 2009, the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) granted a “limited waiver” for the Buy American restriction in the Recovery Act covering certain types of equipment that may be required for broadband projects. The NTIA is responsible for overseeing the process of delivering $4.7 billion in stimulus funding for broadband projects and is administrating the broadband Vermont Polesgrants through the BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities Program).

One of the general requirements of the Recovery Act was the “Buy America” provision requiring grant recipients to purchase “manufactured goods” used in the product from approved U.S. vendors. The Buy America provision gave the agencies broad authority to waive the requirement if certain conditions were met, one of which is if the Buy America requirement is not in the “public interest” in a particular industry...