Qwest Says No Thanks To Stimulus Funds > Qwest won't be only 1 rejecting funds

said by Karl Bode:

You're right. Verizon just got done selling half of rural America. I very much doubt they want to renew their business ties there. That really has less to do with "strings," and more to do with rural America investment simply not suiting the tempo dictated by investors.

"It's not cost effective for the big network operators to play in rural [markets] in the first place and if they take federal money that comes with all these strings attached to it, they are opening themselves up to being regulated even further," said Roger Entner, head of communications research for Nielsen IAG.

Verizon said its officials decided not to apply before conditions were announced. Comcast, which mainly served urban and suburban areas, said it also won't apply. AT&T said it won't likely apply but it is open to partnership with state and local governments who win the grants.