Clearwire acknowledges 'modest' request for broadband stimulus funds

Mobile WiMAX player Clearwire said it applied for some "modest grants" under the government's broadband stimulus program, one of the most high-profile telecom operators to acknowledge an application for funds.

"These projects would have no significant impact on our funding or our existing buildout plans, but demonstrate our support of the government's initiative to bring broadband to underserved areas," Clearwire spokeswoman Susan Johnston told Unstrung. "Additional details will be available once the filings are made public."

Clearwire in July said it would consider an application, and apparently decided to make a play for the cash. The application deadline for the first round of funding passed on Aug. 20, and other telecom firms including SkyTerra, KeyOn and Leap Wireless said they filed requests for stimulus money.

However, a number of major operators--including Verizon, AT&T, Qwest, Comcast and others--have said they will not file for stimulus money due to a range of factors, including the net neutrality stipulations guarding the distribution of the funds.

For more:
- see this Unstrung article [1]

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