By Jim Pilgrim

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”  We’ve all heard that saying and it makes sense that when someone gives you something it could be considered rude to examine that gift too closely. Since it’s a gift, it’s free, right?

I’ve been meeting with folks across the country and the hot topic over the past few months is the Broadband Stimulus Package. When are the rules coming? What will they look like? How can this benefit my company and my community?

Now that the rules are out, a lot of telephone companies have been looking in a lot of horse’s mouths.

They are seeing a great many vet bills when they do. Prevailing wages, Tax & USF implications, opening the books, network sale restrictions all eat away at the gift (grant). Many companies are walking away.

The least they could have done is worm her!