The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program
(TIIAP) has just announced its 1997 awards program.  A number of museums
have benefited from TIIAP funds since the program began a few years ago.
In addition, TIIAP officials have stated that they would like to see more
museums apply.  The following announcement contains TIIAP contact
information.  Please let me know me if I can be of any help.

Barry Szczesny
AAM Government Affairs
[log in to unmask]
(202) 289-9125

---------- Forwarded message ------

January 27, 1997

1997 TIIAP AWARDS PROGRAM: APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 27

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SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, HOSPITALS, PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS,
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER NON-PROFITS
ELIGIBLE FOR INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY GRANTS

Potential Applicants Encouraged to Participate in Regional Workshops

WASHINGTON, DC -- Some $18.5 million dollars in grants will be awarded
in 1997 under the Commerce Department's Telecommunications and
Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) for outstanding
projects that address specific needs of communities across the country,
the department's National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) said in announcing that it will begin accepting
applications for the 1997 awards next week.
        The deadline for submitting applications is March 27,1997.  This
year's priorities will include funding outstanding projects that identify
specific problems or needs in a community, use information
infrastructure services and technologies to offer concrete solutions, and
target measurable outcomes.  Non-profit organizations, colleges and
universities, and all non-federal governmental entities are eligible to
apply, the department said.
        "Through this grant program, the Clinton Administration is working
to make sure that all Americans have access to the benefits of the
Information Age," said Larry Irving, assistant secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information and administrator of NTIA.  "Everyone
interested in making sure their community is prepared for the 21st
Century should attend a TIIAP workshop and join with others in their
community to submit a grant application."

         TIIAP, a highly-competitive, merit-based grant program, provides
seed money for innovative, practical projects that extend the benefits of
advanced telecommunications and information technology to rural and
urban underserved Americans.  Since its inception in 1994, the
information infrastructure grant program has awarded more than $79
million in matching grant funds.

        Conceived as part of the President's National Information
Infrastructure (NII) initiative, TIIAP has leveraged more than $133 million in
local matching funds.  TIIAP projects funded in previous years are
providing innovations in education; helping create more responsive public
institutions; enhancing economic development in rural and disadvantaged
areas; and increasing access to health care.

        NTIA will hold a series of regional Outreach Workshops to
discuss the TIIAP program, introduce the 1997 TIIAP grant round, and
discuss program funding priorities and application requirements.  This is
a key opportunity for interested parties to understand the TIIAP goals and
process and meet representatives of other organizations interested in
the TIIAP program.  The Outreach Workshops will be held on February
14, in Alexandria, Virginia; February 19, in Nashua, New Hampshire;
February 26, in Chicago, Illinois; March 4, in New Orleans, Louisiana; and
March 6, in Phoenix, Arizona.

        Information about the program's regulations and procedures can
be found in the Notice of Availability of Grant Funds, published in the
Federal Register on January 27, 1997.  For more information about TIIAP
and the Outreach Workshops, call (202) 482-2048, or e-mail to
[log in to unmask], or via the Internet at http://www.ntia.doc.gov.

        TIIAP is administered by the U.S. Commerce Department's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  NTIA serves
as the principal adviser to the President, Vice President and Secretary of
Commerce on domestic and international communications and information
issues and represents the Executive Branch before the Congress, other
Federal agencies, foreign governments and international organizations.

From: "Judith S. Sparrow" <[log in to unmask]>