REPUBLICANS QUESTION STIMULUS GRANTS TO PLACES WITH TELCOS

摘要

House Republicans said they fear that projects in places with broadband service are getting stimulus money from thenNTIA and Rural Utilities Service. "There appears to be quite a bit of evidence" that money is going to areas that havenbroadband already, said Joe Barton, R-Texas, the ranking member of the parent Commerce Committee, at anCommunications Subcommittee hearing. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., questioned a $17 million grant for an area of Mainenwhere FairPoint does business. And Subcommittee Ranking Member Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., questioned a $33.5 millionngrant to an area in northern Georgia with service from incumbent Windstream. "If the NTIA and RUS broadbandnprograms are subsidizing areas where existing providers are already offering service, the programs will harmndeployment and cost jobs rather than promote broadband and stimulate the economy," he said.