Expansion in Broadband Key To Ag Prosperity

E-Connectivity was the center of the recently-released White House task force on agriculture and rural prosperity.
But what comes next in terms of consideration and implementation of the report's recommendations?  USDA Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, Anne Hazlet said some progress is already underway.

"Just last week the Broadband Interagency working group was launched under White House leadership. The work group will be aiming to really make sure that all of our policies and our process and our programs are coordinated most effectively."

Hazlet added working group partners like USDA and the NTCA Rural Broadband Association whom she spoke with earlier this week, are involved in efforts to update the nation's maps of broadband coverage.

"The national maps are available, but they are difficult and expensive to maintain. We are moving to look at how to coordinate a better structure for that."

There are also studies underway looking at how to streamline to process of obtaining federal permits for broadband projects in order to speed up deployment of the technology.

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