For those of you who follow me you know we've been banging this drum for years. This issue is about Rural Economic Development...that is the basis of why the Obama Administration has set aside over $7 billion to get farms and rural business access to broadband. Here is the story:
I have a friend who is a physician in Mason City, Iowa who was complaining about his Internet satellite service from HughesNet. He said on Friday, "Go ahead and send me an e-mail but we don't get to see much at home. The service is so slow it takes forever for a page to load." For years I have been beating this drum about Rural Internet Access the unfair costs and economic disability given to Rural America because folks "out there" can't compete with urban business. This issue is as important as rural electrification of the 1930's & 40's when business failed to extend electric service to Rural America and the government had to step in. Even then it took until the 1970's for all farms to be "hooked up". So what's up now? Here is the latest information on the $7.2 billion set aside to make this happen. Oh, and in case you didn't see this: Qwest Communications is seeking $350 million in federal money to take or improve rural broadband. $29 million to be spent in Iowa. Report from The Gazette in Ceder Rapids.
And his case is multiplied over and over and over...
It's an economic development issue. And while the big providers attempted to slow down government involvement there is progress.
Thanks for coming by!
Michael P. Libbie - Acreage Owner and Advertising Guy... On Twitter it's @RuralLifeRadio
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