Broadband mapping group questioned

Connected Nation, which has received upward of $25 million in stimulus grant money to create state broadband maps, is subcontracting some of the work to other groups, raising questions about the efficient use of the money. The questions about Connected Nation come as prominent Republicans criticize stimulus spending as wasteful and ineffective. Internet advocates in Washington have already balked at the organization's eligibility for stimulus money because it is funded by large broadband providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast--all of whom could benefit from how the Obama administration divvies up the dollars. "This is a non-profit controlled by telcos making the very maps that will decide how $7 billion will be spent," said Art Brodsky, communications director at Public Knowledge, who has been a vocal opponent of Connected Nation's involvement in the mapping process. "Why did they get the grants if they clearly can't do the work themselves and have to outsource?" The mapping grants are being allocated by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency within the Commerce Department. So far it has given out 21 grants totaling $39 million. The remaining grants will be announced this month. Connected Nation communications director Jessica Ditto said it is hiring a third-party to help turn the millions of raw data points it receives into readable maps. Ditto added that the contractors will not know which telecom provider's data they are processing in order to prevent any bias in the maps. On the concerns over industry ties, she said the majority of Connected Nation's funding comes from public foundations and that only a "small percentage" comes from telecom firms.