Consortiums will be likely winners of broadband stimulus funding

Government groups or non-profit consortiums that bring private companies and government entities together may be the big winners when broadband stimulus awards are announced. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration asked Governors' offices and state broadband program officials to recommend first round project funding in their states. Their support for local government-run or nonprofits created for public-private partnerships runs from 30 percent to 50 percent, says Craig Settles. Indeed, a number of groups around the country are forming at the local, state and regional level and consist of disparate entities — anchor institutions, such as colleges, hospitals, libraries, counties and towns — brought together by the need for broadband connectivity and mobilized by the promise of federal stimulus money. Many are planning to build and share networks, often in cooperation with the private sector.