There are a few things that are not quite what I would have done if I had been in charge. One big problem is that the programs only talk about "advertised speed" of the connection to the Internet rather than what speed a user could reasonably expect to see. It does not take too much imagination to see how that can be (will be?) abused. The minimum speed that is specified (768Kbps downstream and 200Kbps upstream) is also very low in comparison to what is offered elsewhere in the world. (See "Fast Internet for individuals and businesses?" .)

Another problem is that our tax dollars can be used to create non-Internet managed services (lines 634-637) as long as some Internet connectivity is also provided. This is just what I was arguing against in the previous column -- my tax dollars should not be used to subsidize carriers creating non-Internet services. At first blush, one might think that separate networks for public safety would be a good idea, but in reality, all that such networks do is create incompatible islands of connectivity. It would be far better if public safety communications were IP- and Internet-based.

Disclaimer: A primary aim of education at a place like Harvard is to bridge the incompatible islands of knowledge students have or acquire. But the university has not provided me with an opinion on the broadband stimulus program, so the above is my own review.