We've discussed how consumer advocates believe that a group called Connected Nation is little more than a policy and PR front for the nation's largest carriers. The group was crafted under the guise of mapping and promoting broadband availability, but with a board of directors stocked with some of the biggest lobbying names in telecom, critics argue the group's real goal is to actually prevent more substantive reform, deraling more accurate mapping efforts that highlight competitive shortcomings.

Another alleged function of the group is to steer taxpayer funds away from smaller competitors, and toward the group's principle incumbent backers. With that in mind, it's not too surprising to see Representative Joe Barton, traditionally one of AT&T's favorite politicians, pushing new legislation that attaches a few strings to broadband stimulus funds. From a report at Govtech:Of course arguing that Connected Nation has the "top mapping expertise in the country" may be a stretch, since the organization's maps, under tight control by carriers themselves, don't list available carriers at each address -- and fail to even differentiate between broadband service types (DSL, FTTH, cable). Connected Nation's state non-disclosure agreement declares that all data collected remains the property of AT&T, and can be pulled or deleted at any time.

The idea that taxpayer funds could be spent on a mapping operation that's really an AT&T lobbying apparatus in disguise is worrisome, as is the fact this data wouldn't be independently verifiable or owned by the taxpayer. Despite lofty rhetoric from carriers, their best interest remains in portraying a broadband market that's robust, highly competitive and largely without gaps -- given correcting any shortcomings could result in greater competition and reduced revenues.