Summary Box: Some phone, cable companies say broadband stimulus could fund unfair competition

Summary Box: Broadband funds draw complaints

THE MONEY: Congress provided $7.2 billion in last year’s stimulus package to fund the expansion of high-speed Internet access.

THE COMPLAINTS: Some phone and cable companies complain that the money is sometimes being used to fund networks that will compete with services they already offer.

THE DEFENSE: Government officials handing out the awards point out that the broadband stimulus isn’t just meant to expand high-speed Internet access to places that lack it. They say the plan also is intended to improve what’s available in places where broadband might be relatively slow or expensive.