Broadband stimulus: Grant requests far outweigh requests for loans - FierceBroadbandWireless

Endeavour Partners struck a nerve recently when it called out some of the top broadband stimulus applications and likened them to pork-barrel projects.

Some of the top projects in terms of dollar amounts came from satellite providers, which already have nationwide coverage but don't "count" in the calculation of unserved and underserved markets. Endeavour also pointed out that RADgov (which is asking for $1.3 million in grants) and Edgenics want excessive funding to support e-learning, computer learning centers and government information web portals. And it specifically noted that Kodak-Kenal and Adak Eagle are each asking for hundreds of millions of dollars in investments for undersea fiber to serve very few potential subscribers in remote areas of Alaska. Endeavour calls this "an underwater bridge to nowhere..."