Broadband stimulus spending too fast, group warns

Is the government spending billions in stimulus dollars to expand high-speed Internet networks without first knowing where they are most needed? Many have criticized the White House for not circulating stimulus money fast enough to create jobs and boast the economy. But some are worried about just the opposite -- that it is spending without properly assessing where the dollars will have the most impact. The point of the broadband program is to expand high-speed networks in regions that have little or no Internet access. Stimulus dollars are also going toward creating a nationwide map to show where broadband is available and where it is needed. But the map will not exist to guide the development of the actual networks until about half the money has been spent, consumer groups say. The government is doling out $4 billion of the $7.2 billion set aside for the broadband projects in the next few months. Complicating the matter further is multiple government agencies are involved in collecting the data, but with different methods. That could lead to errors and ineffective spending.