Workshops & Training
These resources provide recipients with guidance, useful references and other information regarding BTOP rules and Federal regulations. The documents and links provided include workshop materials and training presentations.
Workshops
These resources provide recipients with presentations, videos, and other information from NTIA-sponsored workshops.
Round 1 Post-Award Recipient Workshop
A total of 159 BTOP award recipient representatives from 107 organizations attended the June 24-25, 2010, workshop in Chicago, Illinois. NTIA staff led presentations and breakout sessions focused on compliance, reporting, planning, and environmental issues. Federal Program Officers (FPOs) also conducted one-on-one meetings with recipients to provide tailored assistance with individual issues. An interactive TalkBack session engaged attendees in sharing best practices, lessons learned, and technical and administrative approaches to anticipated obstacles and challenges.
Round 2 Post-Award Recipient Workshop
Over 350 representatives from more than 170 Round 2 recipient organizations attended the November 9-10 workshop in Herndon, Virginia. Aneesh Chopra, the U.S. Chief Technology Officer, presented the keynote speech on Nov. 10 and talked about the importance of working with partners and developing creative applications to use on the networks made possible by BTOP grants. Attendees were also able to share best practices and lessons learned on topics like compliance, reporting, and environmental issues, and have face-to-face meetings with their Federal Program Officers (FPOs).
Mid-Course Workshop for BTOP Awardees
More than 533 representatives from more than 150 BTOP grants attended the October 5-7, 2011, in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the course of the three days, BTOP recipients, Federal officials, and leaders in broadband and adoption participated in discussions covering key topics pertaining to broadband infrastructure deployment, tools for program evaluation, and strategies to drive broadband adoption. Attendees also were able to share best practices and lessons learned on topics like outreach tactics, partnership development, diversified funding, compliance, and close out procedures.
Training Sessions
The following presentations provide BTOP recipients with assistance in complying with grants guidance, and applicable laws and regulations. When available, links to information in other parts of this website are provided.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Reporting
- BTOP ARRA Reporting (July 2010) – Overview of ARRA reporting requirements. See the ARRA Reporting section for more information.
Audits
- Practical Audit Guidelines Training Webinar for PCC/SBA and CCI Recipients (March 2013) – Overview of the audit requirements, as well as the process for BTOP grants and the associated audit findings. See the Webinar Q&A for questions that were collected during this webinar.
- Quick Guide to Understanding Audit Requirements for BTOP Program Recipients (March 2011) – Overview of Federal audit requirements. See the Monitoring and Program Oversight section for more information.
Compliance
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- Guidance Webinar for Protection of Human Subjects (June 2011) - Overview of guidance and requirements for protection of human subjects. See the Department of Commerce (DOC) Grants Policy and Guidance section for more information.
- Video Presentation for Davis-Bacon Act Overview Webinar for NTIA-Commerce and USDA-RUS Broadband Grantees (March 2011) posted at http://www.dol.gov/whd/video/DBAct_Broadband.wmv - Video presentation (.wmv format) from the Department of Labor's (DOL) Information Related to the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 web page. Provides an overview of the Davis-Bacon Act regulations and labor standards for broadband grantees (No text transcript or equivalent material has been provided by the Department of Labor). To download the presentation slides click here. See the ARRA Guidelines section for more information.
- Davis-Bacon Webinar for CCI Recipients (August 2012) – Overview of the Davis-Bacon Act as it relates to BTOP grants, including the purpose, and how it affects construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public works. See the Webinar Q&A for questions and answers that were collected during this webinar.
- Close Out Process Webinar for CCI Recipients and PCC/SBA Recipients (July 2012) – Overview of the process for ensuring that all funded project activities are completed and that recipients have met all requirements imposed by applicable laws, regulations, OMB circulars, and award terms and conditions.
- Federal Security Interest Webinar for CCI Recipients (October 2012): Overview of Federal Security Interest as it relates to BTOP grants, including details about the scope of obligations, documentation requirements, and other related guidance.
- Closeout Process Webinar for CCI Recipients (March 2013) — Overview of the process for ensuring that all funded project activities are completed, including discussions of the timing related to closeout activities and recipient closeout requirements.
- Closeout Training Webinar for PCC/SBA Recipients (April 2013) — Overview of the process for ensuring that all funded project activities are completed, including discussions of the timing related to closeout activities and recipient closeout requirements. See the Webinar Q&A for questions and answers that were collected during this webinar.
- Closeout Training Webinar for CCI Recipients (April 2013) — Overview of the process for ensuring that all funded project activities are completed, including discussions of the timing related to closeout activities and recipient closeout requirements. See the Webinar Q&A for questions and answers that were collected during this webinar.
- Federal Security Interest Webinar for CCI Recipients (June 2013) – Overview of Federal Security Interest as it relates to BTOP grants, including details about the scope of obligations, documentation requirements, and other related guidance.
Environmental Compliance
- National Environmental Policy Act Compliance (September 2010) – Overview of National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) requirements, and BTOP compliance processes. See the Environmental Compliance section for more information.
- Navigating the Environmental Assessment Consultation (February 2011) – Overview of formal and informal consultations with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other federal agencies, and National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultations. See the Environmental Compliance section for more information.
Federal Financial Reporting
- Federal Financial Reporting (July 2010) – Overview of submission guidelines for Federal Financial Report (SF-425). See the Financial Reporting section for more information.
Nondiscrimination and Interconnection Obligations
- Nondiscrimination and Interconnection Obligations (November 2010) – Overview of how to comply with interconnection and nondiscrimination terms and conditions.
Performance Progress Reporting
- Performance Reporting for Infrastructure Projects (July 2010) – Overview of the Performance Progress Reporting process and completion tips for infrastructure projects. See Performance Progress Reporting section for more information.
- Performance Reporting for PCC/SBA Projects (July 2010) – Overview of Performance Progress Reporting process and completion tips for PCC and SBA projects. See Performance Progress Reporting section for more information.
- Quarterly and Annual Performance Reporting for Infrastructure Projects (January 2011) – Overview of quarterly and annual performance reporting templates and the PAM system submission process.
- Quarterly and Annual Performance Reporting for PCC Projects (January 2011) – Overview of quarterly and annual performance reporting templates and the PAM system submission process.
- Quarterly and Annual Performance Reporting for SBA Projects (January 2011) – Overview of quarterly and annual performance reporting templates and the PAM system submission process.
Procurement
- Procurement for PCC/SBA Projects (December 2010) – Overview of relevant Federal rules and regulations, and procurement standards, procedures and methods.
- Monitoring Subrecipients (February 2011) – Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General presentation on monitoring subrecipients to ensure performance.