The Senate passed 72-14 Friday a farm bill with provisions making...
The Senate passed 72-14 Friday a farm bill with provisions making loans for rural areas with few or no broadband providers more readily available. Telecom groups praised the long-stalled measure, which still must be conferenced with a House bill.…
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The bill would create a nationwide broadband service provider database modeled on a program in Kentucky that has received widespread praise. “We are particularly pleased with the proposed reforms made to the Rural Utility Service (RUS) broadband program to better target broadband loans to rural communities and increase the number of service providers that are eligible for the loans,” said USTelecom President Walter McCormick. The bill would ensure that “all consumers enjoy the same benefits from high- speed Internet services, regardless of where they live,” McCormick said. The cable industry gave a thumbs up on passage of the bill as well. “We are especially pleased with the provisions of the Farm Bill that reform the RUS Broadband Loan Program to ensure that funds are better directed to rural communities that currently do not have access to broadband service,” said NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow.