  Motivated by the recent optical conductivity experiments on
Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+delta} films, we examine the possible origin of
low-frequency dissipation in the superconducting state. In the presence of
spatial inhomogeneity of the local phase stiffness rho_s, it is shown that some
spectral weight is removed from omega=0 to finite frequencies and contribute to
dissipation. A case where both rho_s and the local normal fluid density are
inhomogeneous is also considered. We find an enhanced dissipation at low
frequency if the two variations are anti-correlated.
