Local governments hope to secure stimulus grants, instead find obstacles | Government Tech | ITBusinessEdge.com

Many local governments have hoped to receive some portion of the stimulus funds to build out broadband networks, only to find that their own layoffs have created piles of extra work and no time to research and apply for such grants, says TMCnet.

Still other local governments have discovered that even if you manage to successfully maneuver the application process, most grants have stipulations on how the money can be used, so many smaller broadband projects cannot be integrated under the same funding. This discourages some local governments from attempting broadband initiatives, which leaves a large percentage of applications for these stimulus grants to go to vendors and telecom carriers who are attempting to expand their own networks...