Snowe Introduces Amendments To Senate's Economic Stimulus Package
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has introduced a couple of amendments to the Senate version of the economic stimulus package that, among other things, boosts tax credits and ensures private companies, not just public-private partnerships, qualify for broadband build-out grants and makes sure the National Telecommunications and Information Administration spreads the money around. The amendments would boost the tax credit from for investment in next generation equipment from 20% to 30%, and for current generation equipment from 10% to 20% in underserved areas and from 20% to 30% in unserved areas. It also adds a new 25% tax credit for investment in "intermediadate" service of 50 mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (the bill defines unserved as no wireline broadband and underserved areas as ones with no more than one service offering 5 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream). Sen Snowe's amendments also directs the NTIA, which would administer the broadband grant program, to "seek to promote economic opportunity, avoid excessive concentration of service, and disseminate grants among a wide variety of applicants."
Snowe Introduces Amendments To Senate's Economic Stimulus Package