  We determine the scattering rate from microwave measurements for an optimally
doped Bi-2212 single crystal, using a simple two fluid model with a d-wave
symmetry order parameter. In the superconducting state, the calculated
scattering rate is three orders of magnitude smaller than that determined from
ARPES experiments. A similar anomalously large decrease in the scattering rate
is also required to explain the data within a gap-quasiparticle scenario for
other HTS, such as $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-\delta}$. The results suggest that the
assumption of normal excitations vanishing at low $T$ is invalid and an
additional charge mode is responsible for the microwave absorption.
