Stimulus Funding To Be Directed Towards Broadband Quickly

Federal government gencies that oversee $7.2 billion in federal grants  economic stimulus bill state a commitment to disperse funding quickly towards expanding high-speed data networks. Michael Copps, the acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, explained the need for quick and decisive action in this area: "Broadband is the central infrastructure challenge of our time."

**$4.7 billion is to be managed by the National Telecommunications Information Administration ( NTIA ), part of the Commerce Department. The other $2.5 billion will be managed by the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS).