U.S. readies broadband stimulus details

SAN JOSE, Calif. — U.S. government agencies may release by the end of June guidelines for applying for the first round of a total of $7.5 billion in stimulus funds to extend the reach of broadband networks. Carriers and communications systems makers are gearing up to apply for the grants and loans, some of which will be awarded as early as September.

"It will be an intense three months," said Kevin Suitor, vice president of marketing and business development at Redline Communications Inc. (Markham, Ontario), a maker of WiMax systems. "We believe the stimulus funding in the U.S. and other programs around the world will provide a bump to WiMax adoption," he added...