Broadband Funding Hopefuls Pair Up in Search of Stimulus Dollars
It may be another month–at least–before officials at the Commerce and Agriculture Departments provide grant proposal details for companies and communities hoping to win some of the $7.2 billion set aside for broadband-stimulus funding, but some hopefuls are already beginning to pair up in hopes of increasing their chances of success.
The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, which represents 1,500 rural utilities and telecom providers, recently announced a deal with WiMAX provider DigitalBridge Communications, which offers high-speed wireless broadband service in rural areas. The rural utilities cooperative is pouring $10 million in funding into DigitalBridge in hopes that the company will help its members offer more wireless broadband services in rural areas–and potentially win some of the broadband stimulus funding.
