Groups Call on Congress to Address Rural Broadband Deployment

Ten leading organizations urged Congress to focus on economic development in rural areas of the country. The organizations, representing rural communities across the country, stressed that broadband deployment, coupled with transportation, education and library services, is essential in stimulating economic development in rural America. “Spurring the development of rural economies is not only important for individuals living in those communities, it’s essential for the broader success of our country in a global market,” stated Leroy Watson, Legislative Director of the National Grange. “With a combined population and economic output that is larger than most of the nations of the European Union, the communities of “Rural America” are our nation’s secret weapons in the competition to efficiently serve the markets of the 21st century.” Title VI of the Farm Bill, contains key language that addresses rural development. Title VI includes the Connect the Nation Act which creates a competitive matching grant for state/local governments, private industry and labor to work together to determine where broadband is needed and to deploy high speed Internet to those areas. A recent study conducted by Connected Nation shows the economic stimulus of increased broadband availability and use is substantial – $134 billion annually in the United States “Broadband provisions contained in the Farm Bill would enable statewide broadband mapping and demand aggregation activities. These provisions provide a proven and rapid tool for the federal government to connect rural America and improve the economy,” said Phillip Brown, National Policy Director of Connected Nation. “The farm bill should make every effort to help rural America, including bipartisan and widely supported language to promote broadband deployment under the successful Connected Nation model.” Organizations included: National Grange, National Farmers Union, U.S. Cattlemen Association, National Rural Health Association, National Association of Counties, Connected Nation, National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association, Rural Policy Research Institute, National Association of Development Organizations and American Library Association.
http://www.nationalgrange.org/PressRoom/pr/2008/pressrelease_1.htm