States weigh in as feds prepare to spend billions on broadband for remote areas

States across the country have pursued efforts toward creating statewide broadband policies and better access for their residents. But their scale pales in comparison to the $7.2 billion in stimulus money the federal government has committed over the next two years to improve high-speed Internet connections around the country. Every state is supposed to get a share, and every governor will get a chance to weigh in on how the funds are spent. In this wash of new money, state officials are scurrying to identify the states' greatest needs, coaching providers applying for stimulus money and developing overarching plans for how to roll out expanded service. State officials will have two major opportunities to determine how stimulus money is spent, although they won't have the final word. First, each state has to map which areas within their borders have broadband coverage, an ongoing effort that about half of the states have already started. State officials will then use that information to craft a plan to decide how best to expand access. Second, once the federal government receives all of the applications from potential providers, it will ask each state to rank its local proposals. The idea is to give governors and their designees a chance to figure out how each project fits in the state's overall plans for broadband expansion. In many cases, state officials are already busy helping applicants shape their proposals, including encouraging groups providing other services to work together on a single proposal. The federal government said it will favor ideas that partner with other stimulus-related projects, such as efforts to build a "smart" electric grid, improve highways, promote public safety and encourage technology upgrades for doctors.