Importance of Connectivity Discussed At Recent Ag Forum

Rural connectivity, examples of it, and its importance in future growth of rural America, those were the focal points of a Rural Prosperity Roundtable recently in North Dakota.  Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, Anne Hazlett, noted just how important the issue became during last year's inaugural meetings of the White House Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity.

"We really did not set out initially to have connectivity be its own factor, but as we went into the discussion, no matter what area we were looking at, whether it was quality of life or innovation or access to new markets, we kept coming back to connectivity, because we truly see it as being fundamental to so many things in rural communities."

Hazlett says partnership among stakeholders in rural communities is essential to successfully expanding broadband service.

"We know at USDA that we can not create prosperity in rural America alone, we must work closely with our leaders, whether it is folks at our federal family or people at that state and local level."