When will broadband stimulus funds begin to flow?

The biggest news in the broadband world this year has been the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), popularly known as the stimulus package. Included in the nearly $800 billion of programs designed to stimulate the American economy is $7.2 billion targeted specifically lor improving broadband access.

The bulk of these funds, to be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Sendee (RUS) and the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration NTIA), are for grants and loans to upgrade access network haulware and software in hard-to-scrvc areas...