Wisconsin's stimulus rejection: Too many strings, or too much scrutiny?

[Commentary] Wisconsin is the first state to return broadband stimulus funds, although it likely won't be the last if other states have similar issues.

The problem here is that at the end of the day, the schools and libraries of Wisconsin still have nothing. And that's not five years down the road; that's today. Stimulus funds that were meant to boost connection speeds for 385 libraries and 82 schools in communities across the state are no longer available. There's no changing their mind on this one; the returned funds will be distributed to another state. The schools and libraries aren't entirely without options, however. They can renew their contract with AT&T for BadgerNet and hope improvements in broadband over copper wire will be enough over that period. Wisconsin communities can hope that the free market certain Washington pundits keep touting will spur buildout of fiber infrastructure sometime within this decade.