Major Carriers Shun Broadband Stimulus 190
jmcharry sends word that as the deadline looms for requesting broadband grants from the $4.7 billion available in stimulus funding, Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T are conspicuously absent from the list of applicants. Quoting the Washington Post: "Their reasons are varied. All three say they are flush with cash, enough to upgrade and expand their broadband networks on their own. Some say taking money could draw unwanted scrutiny of business practices and compensation, as seen with automakers and banks that have taken government bailouts. And privately, some companies are griping about conditions attached to the money, including a net-neutrality rule that they say would prevent them from managing traffic on their networks in the way they want. ... Yet those firms might be the best positioned to achieve the goal of spreading Internet access to underserved areas, some experts say." Reader Michael_Curator notes that while the major carriers may be holding back, there were still enough applications to slow government servers to a crawl, resulting in a deadline extension.
Re:The Real Reason.... (Score:5, Funny)
They just working out a plan for converting the money into bonuses. It's hard work!
Re:The "Real Reason" (Score:4, Funny)
> there are never-ending strings attached to government money.
Yes, but that money must be spent! I quote our vice president: "You're telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt? The answer is yes, that's what I'm telling you." [joebidensaidthat.com] Classic stuff!
Re:The Real Reason.... (Score:5, Funny)
Perhaps we have a communication problem here. From TFA, "And privately, some companies are griping about conditions attached to the money, including a net-neutrality rule " From the summar, "And privately, some companies are griping about conditions attached to the money, including a net-neutrality rule "
I would say we do have a communication problem. I think. Either you're being sarcastic or I am, I sincerely thought it was me.
Re:they don't want real broadband... (Score:3, Funny)
In the words of one of the town hall protesters: "Keep your government hands off my Medicare!"
Or another personal favorite, from Investor's Business Daily: "People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." (For the reality-impaired: Stephen Hawking is and has always been British)