Texas State Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, filed two bills this legislative session that aim to increase broadband access for people who live where access to reliable internet service is limited, largely in rural areas. The proposals “call for the creation of a broadband office in the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the establishment of a grant program to support public or private broadband investment. Anderson’s plan would also include coordination between the broadband office and the Texas Department of Transportation and require reports to the Legislature about the office’s progress.”
Blunt working for expansion of broadband service in rural Mo.
In Missouri, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt "spoke of his goal to increase broadband service to rural Missouri…" Sen. Blunt said that 51 percent of rural Missouri does not have broadband service, compared to 35 percent of rural areas nationwide. In his remarks, Sen. Blunt highlighted ...
Broadband access 'local economic development issue'
Scott Rudd, director of broadband opportunities in Indianapolis, said the "lack of high speed internet access in some areas of the state has created a sense of urgency." In an interview, Rudd talked about the need for the state’s largest single investment in broadband to dat...
SC continues to invest in telehealth, but internet connections lag
South Carolina is expanding access to telemedicine which is seen as a solution to deteriorating health care services in rural parts of the state. Still though, some 537,000 people in South Carolina don’t have an adequate internet connection at home—about 11 percent of the st...
House OKs public-private partnerships for roads, broadband projects
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 286 on Friday by a vote of 64-0. Sponsored by five lawmakers from both political parties, this bill would allow any government agency in the state to enter into a long-term agreement with a private entity to finance and build road a...
$1.25 million earmarked for broadband, library, park
The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development had awarded a Keystone Communities Program grant of $500,000 to help Indiana County leaders to extend broadband internet access to underserved rural, outlying areas of the county. In total, the award of four grants to...
South Portland broadband plan could hit funding snag
An action plan for using $436,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds received unanimous City Council approval Tuesday night in Portland, ME. However, the plan to be submitted to the Cumberland County Commissioners, and eventually the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban De...