New Coalition advocates for rural telecommunications services
A new coalition of rural advocacy groups wants improved delivery of advanced communications and broadband services to rural areas.
The group is called the Rural Telecommunications Alliance (RTA). Spokesperson Larry Mitchell says the importance of technology to rural America is no different than it is to the rest of the nation.
“We need equitable and affordable access to broadband, video, wireless and phone services,” Mitchell explains. “We need to harvest the power of modern communications to work, play, live and learn.”
While urban and suburban areas are getting the benefits of competition, lower prices and new innovations, Mitchell says rural America is often the last to benefit. “In other words, we’re still on that dusty, dirty road somewhere well off of the information super highway.”
Mitchell cites rural Farm Service Agency offices as an example. “If we were to simply have broadband available to each of those county offices, we could certainly streamline the delivery of federal farm programs—but more importantly, the farmers that are serviced by those service centers need to be into that loop as well.”
RTA says it will urge the next president and Congress make advanced communications services for rural America a national priority.
Groups involved in the effort are the American Agriculture Movement, American Corn Growers Association, Women Involved in Farm Economics, League of Rural Voters, National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association and National Association of Farmer Elected Committees.
