This announcement of the so called smart-grid grants to 49 of the states is focused on the creation of a more efficient as well as a reliable electric system in the country. However, smart grid's backbone that uses the digital technology in order to deliver the electricity and also control its use will be a network that will be based on Internet Protocol, and its result could mean a new broadband deployment in some of the areas as said by Craig Settles, an analyst of broadband and the president of the consulting firm Successful.com.

The money needed for the deployment of the smart-grid comes from the act of American Recovery and Reinvestment, and an amount of $787 billion comes from the economic stimulus package that was passed by U.S. Congress in the month of February. This legislation includes $11 billion for the projects of smart grid, and it also includes $7.2 billion for the deployment of broadband to the rural and some of the other un-served areas of the country.