All broadband companies should be eligible for NTIA and Rural Uti...

office, and David Grahn, the associate general counsel of the Agriculture Department’s rural development office. McCormick called it “essential to include, at a minimum, any private entity that is currently operating a broadband network as eligible to receive funding,” because those companies are best qualified to find and serve areas where broadband investment is needed, and quickly create jobs. He asked the agencies to develop a rule on eligibility “as soon as possible,” so businesses can get started on applying. The definitions of “unserved” and “underserved” shouldn’t relate to the extent of competition in an area, McCormick said. “Funding focused on adding networks rather than on adding new consumer connections is likely to result in program expenditures that do little or nothing to increase the number of consumers on the network,” he said. The USTelecom president also asked agencies to “minimize red tape.” Agencies should adopt the FCC’s Internet policy statement in response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s nondiscrimination and interconnection provisions, McCormick said. “The agencies must not lose sight of the first and foremost goal of the ARRA -- job creation and near-term economic stimulus,” he said. Allowing policy debates risks “creating significant delay and injecting substantial uncertainty” in reaching the economic goals, he said.