To add to Eric Seigal, David Green and Jim Bower's posts re: TIIAP...

Another you reason the museum community should seriously consider this
program is that the folks at TIIAP are actively interested in "culture".  A
good project that includes museums is likely to be received favorably by
the program.

But be aware that TIIAP rarely funds "single institution projects."  They
are looking for *colloborative projects* that crosscut communities and will
produce partnerships that the projects can use to leverage their efforts
and continue their work beyond the period of TIIAP funding.  As the folks
at TIIAP were fond of saying, they wanted the grants to "jumpstart"  the
national information infrastructure in ways that will directly serve the
public.

The NEH, NSF, NEA and IMS may all have programs that provide some funding
in this area, but these agencies also must support myriad other programs,
making your chances that much slimmer.  TIIAP is the only program I know of
(besides private foundations) that solely funds telecommunications-based
projects and is receptive to applications received from the cultural
sector.

Diane Zorich
MCN Government Affairs Liaison