Level 3 eyeing stimulus funding

Level 3 will apply for broadband stimulus funding in the first round. Edward Morche, senior vice president of the Federal Markets Group for Level 3 Communications, said last week that his company would partner with cable companies, LECs, wireless providers or state and local governments in seeking to offer broadband access in unserved and underserved areas, building off its national network. From Level 3's position, Morche said, it would make more sense for stimulus funding to go to create a facilities-based competitor to existing service providers, not only to provide more choices for end users but also to create more route diversity for network survivability.