USDA: More Farms Gain Access to Broadband
The number of farms in the United States with broadband Internet access continues to increase, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistic Service report, Farm Computer Usage and Ownership,...
View ArticleUSDA Awards $103 Million for Broadband Projects
The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced today that 18 recipients will receive more than $103 million in funding for 23 projects to provide broadband services to unserved and underserved rural...
View ArticleRUS Awards $410 Million in New Broadband Loans
On Monday, the USDA announced funding for telephone utilities to build, expand and improve broadband in their rural service territories. As part of the traditional Telecommunications Infrastructure...
View ArticleUSDA Awards $14 million for Telehealth and Distance Learning
Last week, USDA announced funding for 52 distance learning and telemedicine projects that will increase access to health care and enhance educational opportunities in 29 states. The projects total $14...
View ArticleThe Things We Treasure
Policy Perspectives For the past 30 years, the English department at San Jose State University has sponsored the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. The contest is named for the author of an 1830 novel...
View ArticleAg Department Announces $8 Million for Rural Smart Grid
Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack last week announced loan guarantees for rural electric co-ops and other utilities in 12 states. Loan guarantees reaching $8 million will be...
View ArticleThe New ABCs of Rural Telecom Policy: Anecdotes, Boogeymen and Catchphrases
It has been about a month since I sent my last DC update out, but between the Rural Telecom meeting, NTCA and OPASTCO unification, and what seems like an endless supply of filings to make and the need...
View ArticleAg Department Proposes New Rural Definition
Washington is famous for the ability to spin many words that say…nothing. It’s not a new condition – Shakespeare offered a lacerating observation in Macbeth, describing “a tale . . . full of sound and...
View ArticleUSDA Funding Opportunities for Rural Communities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued several announcements last week which were welcome news for rural Americans. They also represent opportunities for RLECs to improve their communities...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ag Department Affirms Rural Relevance, Future
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack made news (or waves, depending upon how you read the news) last December when he addressed the Farm Forum and urged rural America...
View Article
