The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) have announced that they have received about 2,200 applications requesting nearly $28 billion in funding that applies to all 50 states and Washington D.C.

This funding included as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It has been set up to "help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building Internet infrastructure," according to the NTIA.

ACORN Institute has filed two separate applications with the Commerce Department. One in the amount of $3,172,042 and the other in amount of $2,999,903.

The grant description reads as follows:

"The Digital Empowerment Project bridges the digital divide in low-income and minority populations by promoting adoption through grassroots outreach, training participants in computer centers; and providing in-home computers and broadband access. This approach is based on research-driven practices and ensures an efficient and scalable effort to facilitate broadband in disadvantaged populations."

"ACORN remains eligible for over $8 billion in federal funding through stimulus money and the Department of Housing and Urban Development." 

Update from Clarice Feldman:

Today, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Johanns Amendment cutting off all federal funds to ACORN:

"Until a full investigation is launched into ACORN, no taxpayer money should be used to fund its activities. A vote in favor of my amendment is a vote in favor of the taxpayer and a vote against the status quo."

 - Johanns Amendment #2355 to HR3288 passes Senate 83 to 7.

Now--keep the heat on to (a) be sure this makes it thru the conference committee and that it federal funds are not channeled to the same people through a renamed organization, and (b) to require a full investigation into its tax exempt status, its interlocking relationships and criminal activities.