The deadline to receive $4.7 billion in stimulus money to help pay for the roll out of high-speed internet access in underserved areas is Aug. 20, and as of right now, broadband giants such as AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZ) and Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) are unlikely to apply for it, according to a report in the Washington Post.
While most of these carriers are likely in the best position to implement the dream of installing services in far-fetched areas, they are also the ones who least likely need the funding, or want it. With stimulus money comes additional oversight, including a net-neutrality rule that they claim would prevent them from managing traffic on their networks the way they’d want to. But of those that are applying, many are wireless companies, reports GigaOm, which says there will be up to $7.2 billion handed out over several rounds. TowerStream, a WiMax provider, confirmed it is applying. Likewise, Glenn Richards, a partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said most of his eight clients that planned to apply as of last week were wireless providers.

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