Overview

Grant writers should focus on interweaving the disciplines of politics, engineering and economics to build a balanced and convincing application. Applicants are also cautioned to ensure all elements of their application cross check in terms of financial, subscriber and build-out projections. Federal authorities estimate the application requires 111 hours to compile, however, a successfully detailed application might require more time. Those considering applying for grants or loans in Round Two should not wait for Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) to be released.

Some of the most time-consuming elements of the grant application (Attachments C and G, for example) can be started at any time and attention to detail here provides a foundation for rest of the application process.

This report also warns of administrative details that should not be put off to the last minute thus causing a failure to make the application deadline.

• Indications are that there will be only one more round of BIP/BTOP applications
• Readers will find this report invaluable in planning their BIP/BTOP application strategy
• The primary lesson communicated is the need for time management and an interdisciplinary focus in constructing the grant application
• The BIP and BTOP programs are unprecedented and may prove to be a once-in-a-career opportunity for many telecommunications professionals

• Grant writers and their investors
• States and municipalities apply for BIP/BTOP funds
• Any one considering applying for a BIP/BTOP grant or loan
• Service providers requiring support for their grant writing strategy
• Vendors supporting their customers to obtain grant funds for purchase of their products

Frank Ohrtman has almost 20 years experience in VoIP and wireless applications. He is the president of WMX Systems, LLC, a Denver, Colorado-based consulting and systems integration firm. Mr. Ohrtman learned to perform in-depth research and write succinct analyses during his years as a Navy Intelligence Officer (1981-1991) during which he specialized in electronic intelligence and electronic warfare. He is a veteran of U.S. Navy actions in Lebanon (awarded Navy Expeditionary Medal), Grenada, Libya (awarded Joint Service Commendation Medal), and the Gulf War (awarded National Defense Service Medal).

His telecommunications career began with selling VoIP gateway switches for Netrix Corporation to long distance bypass carriers. He went on to promote softswitch solutions for Lucent Technologies (Qwest Account Manager) and Vsys (Western Region Sales Manager). His consulting clients include national governments and tier one telephone companies.

Mr. Ohrtman is a Gerson Lehrman Group Scholar (http://www.glgcouncils.com) and serves as Dean of WiMAX for Applied Learning Solutions (http://www.e-als.com). He is a regular blogger and contributor to WiMAX.com (http://www.wimax.com) and annual presenter at WiMAX World (http://www.wimaxworld.com) as well as local Cisco Users Groups. Mr. Ohrtman serves as an advisor to Bush Telecommunications Pty Ltd and the Rural Broadband Consortium of Australia.

Mr. Ohrtman holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications from Colorado University College of Engineering (master's thesis: "Softswitch As Class 4 Replacement-A Disruptive Technology"), a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, from University of Iowa

Frank may be reached at Frank@MindCommerce.com