State Legislation Update: The Latest in Broadband

Bowling Green, KY (August 6, 2019) – Staying up-to-date on what is happening in your state legislature is important, especially when it comes to rural broadband. Broadband affects the economy, growth of organizations and businesses, education and much more. Connected Nation is on top of what’s happening with broadband in your state. Texas  Over the last two months, big improvements in broadband funding …

Farm Bureau Tells Congress Rural Broadband Will Boost Economy and Improve Sustainability

Published by WoWo News on July 14, 2019 Jefferson City, MO. (July 15, 2019) – Broadband is no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern agriculture and the quality of life for rural Americans, Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst told a House subcommittee today. “While most Americans take broadband for granted, 26.4% of rural Americans lack access to …

Missouri Rural Broadband Expansion Continues With $24.1 Million From FCC

Published by KBIA Radio on June 12, 2019 By Columbia Missourian & Galen Bacharier  For years, rural Missouri residents have suffered from a lack of broadband internet access. New federal funding totaling $24.1 million will expand that access for nearly 10,000 Missouri homes over the next decade, the Federal Communications Commission announced Monday. Funding applications for two companies, Co-Mo Connect …

FCC authorizes $22 million for broadband in rural Missouri counties

Published by Howel County News on May 24, 2019 By Caitlyn Rosen  Missourians living in rural areas have dealt with a lack of broadband access at disproportionate levels. Funding authorized Tuesday from the Federal Communications Commission could peck away at the problem. The FCC authorized $22.4 million over the next decade to expand broadband access to 13 counties and 7,400 …

UPDATE: List of States Funding Rural Broadband Gets Even Longer

by Jessica Denson Director of Communications, Connected Nation Bowing Green, KY (May 14, 2019) – Earlier this month, Connected Nation took a closer look at the action states are taking to expand rural broadband access. Many state lawmakers are choosing to move forward now rather than wait for federal funding. Less than two weeks later, we can add nearly another …

Rural Broadband Closer to Becoming Reality in Missouri

The following was published by usagnet on May 14, 2019 by Eric Bohl, Missouri Farm Bureau The Missouri Legislature has taken another step toward making broadband internet accessible to all Missourians. In early May, the legislature finalized the annual state budget, which included a $5 million appropriation for the newly-created Rural Broadband Development Fund. Governor Parson supports improved broadband access …

Senator Blunt says expansion of high-speed broadband essential to rural Missouri growth

Published by SJ Post on April 26th, 2019 By Brent Martin  U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt wants Congress to tackle expanding broadband access, especially to rural America. Blunt says high-speed Internet access can no longer be considered a luxury. “High-speed broadband, I believe, is as important today as the telephone was seven decades ago and we need to make the same …

Blunt calls for Missouri PDMP bill, emphasizes importance of broadband

Published by The Neighbor on April 22nd, 2019 By Brain Hauswirth  (Jefferson City) — Missouri’s senior senator addressed the opioid epidemic, rural broadband, the growing economy and a large Poplar Bluff manufacturer during a Wednesday address to the Missouri House in Jefferson City. Senator Roy Blunt (R), who’s in his second Senate term, says the leading cause of accidental death …

Coverage Questions Plague Rural Broadband Expansion

Editor’s Note: Connected Nation believes that one of the reasons many areas remain unserved or underserved when it comes to access to broadband is because there is not accurate data. The current data does not truly reflect who has access and who does not. The following piece, written by Anthony Izaguirre, was published by the Southeast Missourian on April 16, …