Eyeing the broadband stimulus skeptically

"If a project was planned but not yet funded, then it would qualify," Irving said. But if funding already had been lined up, it can't be pulled back by a state or other funding entity just to qualify for the federal stimulus.

That makes sense because the federal money is intended to provide an immediate jobs boost that wouldn't have happened without stimulus funds.

Finally, there is concern among telecom providers that, for once, Washington may be moving too fast — something that seems hard to fathom. Those concerns include a lack of staffing at the agencies assigned to hand out the money, making it probable that, with disbursement deadlines looming, there will be delays.

Anyone interested in learning more about the broadband stimulus can also tune into Telephony's upcoming Webcast on the topic, scheduled for Wednesday, April 15.

E-mail me at cwilson3@telephonyonline.com.