Senator Dick Durbin Bill To Promote High Speed Internet Access In Rural Areas Included In Farm Bill

December 14, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his bill, The Connect the Nation Act, was included in the 2007 Farm Bill, passed by the full Senate this afternoon. Durbin’s bill promotes the rapid deployment of high-quality, affordable broadband internet service, especially in rural areas. The legislation creates a matching grant program to be administered through the Department of Commerce to assist statewide or regional public-private partnerships increase broadband access, map resources and build demand.

“The importance of high speed internet access cannot be overstated,” Durbin said. “Yet, for too many people living in small communities today, broadband access is still not a reality. When I travel in downstate Illinois, people tell me there is no broadband service available. This bill will help to change that.”

Durbin’s legislation is modeled on public-private partnerships now functioning successfully in Kentucky, North Carolina and a few other states. Durbin noted that this type of approach is one of the few successful models that bring together providers, advocates, and units of government. Proprietary information can be protected and detailed maps can be developed, which is an important first step to building out broadband networks. In addition, the model creates a statewide or regional clearinghouse of technical assistance, grant writing, and demand building expertise.

Durbin also said that broadband is critical to community and economic development, as it encourages investment, creates jobs, improves productivity, fosters innovation, and increases consumer benefits in every corner of our nation. In Kentucky, 7 million dollars of public funding invested in the program has leveraged 700 million dollars of investment in network build out. Since the program began in 2004, access to broadband has increased from 64 percent of households to 92 percent and is slated to reach 100 percent by the end of the year.

“We need to close the digital divide, ensuring that rural Americans are not left behind in the 21st Century’s digital economy,” Durbin noted. “Whether it is through telephone wire, cable, fiber, satellite, wireless or any other medium, we need every existing and future broadband service provider to step up to the national challenge.”

The Farm Bill is a multi-year bill that deals with a variety of issues from nutrition and feeding programs for the needy to rural development and conservation programs.

Source: Senator Dick Durbin

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