USDA Looking For Partners To Provide Broadband

Sonny Perdue recently went before a Senate Ag Committee hearing, where he was asked about the progress being made to expand broadband internet service to rural America.

“We appreciate the $600 million that was placed in the omnibus that will give us an opportunity to develop pilots with the idea of, not a concentrated laser focus but pilots that demonstrate how this can be deployed across the United States.”

He noted the allocated funds will not pay for all of the nation’s broadband needs all by itself.

“But we hope to use that as money to optimize and to lavage other money from the private sector be they rural utilities coops, rural telephone coops or the private sector.”

Perdue also stressed, again, the importance of connectivity, calling broadband the interstate highway of the 21^st century.  He also predicted economic demise for regions of the U.S. where broadband service was not an option.

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