Technology stimulus funding: Can public/private partnerships work? | Charles Keating | KITSAP PENINSULA BUSINESS JOURNAL

The economy is down, with many businesses struggling to survive. For public agencies and non-profits, shrinking tax revenues and increased competition for grants is equally intense. A new $7 billion round of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds targets increased access to low-cost broadband, recognizing the positive and synergistic impact this can create on education, the environment, and small business — the latter which has long been the backbone of the American economy.

In Kitsap, broadband also offers an alternative to commuters. In 2004, Kitsap Regional Telecommunications Committee was declared a success and disbanded while other efforts continued. Various Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) initiatives such a T3 (Techno-tools and Telework) and Kit-Net are attempting to improve public sector networking and use of broadband. An 18 month Telework Pilot Project with a July 1 delivery date to the Legislature sought employers and employees interested in telecommuting at home or in a telework center one or two days a week...