Qwest last week claimed that it would cost them $3 billion to get 7 Mbps broadband service available to 95% percent of its current footprint -- assuming taxpayers are willing to foot the bill. That's of course first-generation DSL, providing even deployment of their 12Mbps & 20Mbps ADSL2+ service would cost substantially more. Qwest has been lobbying a long time for a stimulus plan that would involve money being doled out to the States, who would then give the money to carriers willing to deploy 7Mbps to 95% of each State -- with industry-backed Connected Nation likely checking the math. The AP makes it clear Qwest is gunning for Federal funds, and is unhappy with the current $7 billion plan:As we've mentioned previously, Qwest's sudden concern about even broadband coverage is a little disingenuous, given they have a history of spending millions of dollars to crush town and city efforts to wire themselves when nobody else would. Of course since this initial $7 billion package is only the opening salvo in the Obama broadband plan -- Qwest may get their money down the line.