Handicapping broadband stimulus picks

The $7.2 billion in Broadband Stimulus prize money in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is creating quite a buzz around the telecom race track.

With its objective “to expand broadband services in the U.S.”, the Broadband Stimulus makes money available to build broadband facilities where little or none exist. The huge response to the July 1 Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) was overwhelming, filling the barns with over 2,200 entrants ready to saddle-up for the big race...