Skepticism arises over rural broadband stimulus

With the first concerted federal program to subsidize high-speed Internet services in rural areas, the new economic stimulus package will create some jobs and could get hundreds of thousands of households online.

Yet there’s some question whether the economy would be more energized by spending that money on other things.

Because Internet access is already widespread and still being expanded even in a shrinking economy, injecting more money for broadband could simply equate to giving more coffee to someone who’s already downed three cups.

By PETER SVENSSON
The Associated Press

Full Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021902473.html?hpid%3Dsec-tech&sub=AR