September 27, 2010

 Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced more than $3.3 million in Recovery Act funding for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) that will finance initiatives for the Lyon County School District, the Walker River and Yerington Paiute Tribes, and Connection Nation, Inc. which is working with the State of Nevada Broadband Task Force to map and expand broadband across the state.
 
“These projects represent increased learning and economic opportunities for all Nevadans,” said Reid. “Applying for these grants, particularly in Lyon County, took a lot of work and volunteer hours.  The dedication of the community shows just how important this grant is for improving access to computers and the opportunities they provide to rural parts of the state and tribal areas.  No one needs the economic promise of strong broadband infrastructure like Nevadans.”
 
Connected Nation will receive more than $2.5 million for broadband mapping, expansion monitoring, technical assistance in order to develop permanent programs in schools and libraries across the state.  The funding will also support local regional technology planning teams in the 14 counties with the lowest rates of broadband availability and adoption.
 
The Lyon County School District along with Mineral County officials and the Walker River and Yerington Paiute Tribes will receive $745,005 to create public computer centers that will provide training in basic computer literacy, GED preparation, and ESL training. The school district will use the increased access to offer advanced and college level courses. The tribes plan to use the new computer centers to participate in national tribal events and increase GED completion.  This grant will allow as many as 1,700 tribal users to go online every week and train as many as 7,500 in computer literacy over three years.