I am forwarding Information in case you may not have seen it.

The Open Media Foundation invites Public Access partners to join us in
applying for a Second-Round BTOP Sustainable Broadband Adoption
proposal. With the deadline for the second and final round of BTOP
grants approaching on March 15th, OMF was disappointed to learn just
last week that, despite getting past the Due-Diligence phase of the
first round, our proposal was not selected for funding. While the
late rejection has left us with a short window of opportunity to
re-apply, the process has been very informative and educational in
revising the proposal for a second try.

The vision of the project involves updating Public Access TV stations
into integrated on-line institutions that serve as a gateway for
disadvantaged communities to begin creating multimedia content for the
web and encouraging sustainable broadband adoption among communities
with historically low broadband use. Participating stations will
receive support in implementing the Open Media Project tools which,
among other things, automate the process of posting all video content
on-line. The Open Media Foundation will provide the development,
integration, and if necessary, equipment required to implement the
features of the Open Media Project (as outlined at
http://openmediaproject.org/features)

Participating Stations will be asked to support early adopters in
their local "disconnected communities" (neighborhoods with low
broadband penetration rates) to produce content that conveys the
relevance of broadband in their lives. Free Speech TV will produce a
national TV series for both DishNetwork and DirecTV featuring samples
from the participating stations. As with our first round application,
we also plan to partner with the ACM to support a full-time staff
evaluation expert, documenting best-practices in sustainable broadband
adoption among member stations and developing a knowledge-base with
search-able content on a wide range of related issues.

Because the window is so tight, interested parties have only one-week
to complete the new application form at openmediaproject.org Keep in
mind that completion of the application, and participation in the
proposal does not guarantee funding, nor does it legally bind your
station to any agreement. The application is required to be
considered for participation in the grant, but it is not until the
grant is awarded and a subsequent contract is signed by your ED and
Board that your organization would be legally bound to any agreements.

Feel free to contact me or Maria@openmediafoundation.org with any questions.

Tony Shawcross
Executive Director
Open Media Foundation
700 Kalamath St
Denver, CO 80204
720-222-0160 x200

Posted by Caroline Cunningham in Wilbraham