Rural Broadband

Rural Broadband

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Having watched Oregon Republican representative Greg Walden over the years, one thing is certain and that is that he always has his agricultural constituents in mind. Continuing his efforts to improve connectivity in eastern Oregon, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) recently held a hearing to examine solutions to expand broadband access for rural communities not only in Oregon but across the entire country. Representative Walden, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, detailed the widespread benefits of connecting people with broadband access particularly in rural communities.

"Farmers and ranchers across my district have taken advantage of precision agriculture technology to reduce inputs. And the transition to next generation 9-1-1 is critical for strengthening public safety. Broadband is the infrastructure of the 21st century," said Walden. "Broadband means jobs. Jobs come from deployment -- building towers and cell sites, laying fiber, launching satellites, and upgrading facilities that constitute the physical infrastructure. The economic benefits don't stop at construction. Maintaining this infrastructure requires high-skilled jobs in engineering, network management, cybersecurity, advertising, and customer service. And beyond all that, we know broadband is a force multiplier for job creation, providing efficiencies for every sector of the economy."

Walden's hearing, entitled "Realizing the Benefits of Rural Broadband: Challenges and Solutions,"

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