On the way to Iowa this week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told a White House press pool that broadband internet has become infrastructure of necessity in rural areas. His comments came as President Trump toured agriculture education facilities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to learn more about agriculture technology and to pledge a focus on rural broadband in his infrastructure plan. Perdue said that the administration is developing proposals to enhance rural broadband connectivity with providers. When asked about a national plan, he said, “I don’t think you’re going to see a national plan” because each area is different.
While there will not be a national footprint, Perdue said that the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development offices would look at “every area” in “working with the resources that we have” to make rural broadband as widespread as possible.
Source: NAFB News Service