[qi:101] The $7.2 billion to be paid out to companies that plan to expand the nation’s broadband access isn’t just about tossing funds to private and public organizations to lay fiber or place wireless towers — it’s about job creation. This was brought home to me during an interview with Jeff Thompson, CEO of Towerstream, a fixed WiMAX provider that hopes to take advantage of broadband stimulus grants to build out wireless networks in more areas of the country.
Along the way, Thompson hopes to rehire some of the 34 people he’s had to lay off in the last few months since the economy has soured. Towerstream, which currently employs 150 people, provides last-mile WiMAX-based service in nine markets. Thompson hopes to expand into new markets with the aid of some stimulus money, but declined to detail his plans, citing competitive concerns. However, once Towerstream’s applications are in, they will become public. In the meantime, I was struck by Thompson’s focus on new jobs during our conversation, since I have been viewing this legislation mostly for its potential to boost broadband in rural and underserved areas. In my haste to write about speeds and technology, I’ve neglected to consider how many jobs are created, a criterion in the grant process. The rules associated with applying for a grant mention job creation on 15 different pages.
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