Federal program to deliver broadband connectivity to rural communities gets a boost from agreement signed by three agencies
A recently funded federal program intended to provide broadband deployment in rural areas got a boost this week when the three government agencies running the program signed an inter-agency agreement.
The Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, signed the agreement to share information about and coordinate the distribution of federal broadband deployment funds.
In accordance with the Broadband Interagency Coordination Act, enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the agencies will consult with one another and share information about the distribution of new funds from the FCC’s high-cost programs that support broadband buildout in rural areas, the USDA’s Rural Utilities Services grant and loan programs, and programs administered or coordinated by NTIA.
“The last fifteen months demonstrated like never before that broadband is no longer a luxury, but a necessity,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Congress rightfully funded broadband deployment at levels we’ve seldom seen in recent years in response to the pandemic.”
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack compared the program to programs early in the last century that delivered electricity to rural communities.
“Broadband internet is the new electricity,” he said. “It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected,”
As part of the signed agreement, each federal agency partner will share information about existing or planned projects that receive funding from the previously mentioned federal funding sources. Each partner will also, upon request, identify entities providing broadband service in a specified geographic area; the levels of broadband service in that area, including broadband speeds and technologies deployed; the geographic scope of broadband service in that area; and each entity in that area that has or will receive funds from these programs. The Agreement also requires the federal agency partners to consider basing the distribution of funds from the programs on standardized broadband coverage data.
