Broadband Stimulus Applicants: The Dreamers, the Hopefuls and the Planners

[Commentary] From what Settles has seen and read about so far, broadband stimulus applications fit into three loosely defined categories: The dreamers, the hopefuls and the planners. The dreamers threw proposals out there that have no chance of being funded but figure there's always the wild possibility that lightning might strike and they'll get lucky. The company that put in a proposal for $1.4 billion for sustainable adoption and computer centers when only $450 million has been set aside for the whole country to share. The hopefuls got to the party late, April or May, or they're from urban and other areas that were clearly short-changed by the NOFA rules' wording and late arrival. Philly's a good example of the latter. The hopefuls have viable broadband needs, but the time worked against them preparing a great proposal and the rules backed them into a corner. However, they submitted anyway, on a hope and a prayer. Those in the planners category were well on their way to having all the details in place before the stimulus even came out. They probably have the strongest position among the 2,200. The hopefuls are in the 50/50 position. Whether they win a grant or not depends a lot on how strong their political mojo is and how many proposals have come from their respective states.