Senator Tom Harkin Statement On Rural Broadband Report

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, released the following statement regarding the report outlining a broadband internet strategy for rural America released today by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in conjunction with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As part of his overall push to expand access to broadband in rural America, Harkin worked to include broadband assistance in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, the farm bill, including requiring the FCC Chairman, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, to submit this report to Congress. More recently, Harkin helped to secure $7.2 billion in the final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Economic Recovery Package, to extend and improve highspeed broadband service in rural communities and across the nation.

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“A few years ago, broadband internet was crucial for only some businesses, but today it is a necessary utility for almost all businesses, families and even for students doing their homework. In order for rural communities to thrive and grow, we must make broadband effectively available.

“Today’s report is a useful step towards providing broadband internet access to America’s rural communities. It lays out the need for broadband as well as the existing resources and barriers to the deployment of broadband in rural areas. Additionally, it explains the importance of coordination between agencies of the federal government and the cooperation with local entities that is necessary to truly bring broadband to rural areas across the country. I am hopeful that this report, along with other initiatives, including funding allocated in the Recovery Act, will go a long way towards bringing broadband access to those who need it.”

Source: Senator Tom Harkin