Farm Bill Will Deliver Better Results if More Providers Invited to the Table

The following quote may be attributed to Eric Slee, VP of Government Affairs, WISPA - Broadband Without Boundaries:

Washington, DC, September 15, 2022 – WISPA welcomes today’s House hearing on “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Broadband.” Access to broadband makes our lives safer, more productive and richer. Rural Americans depend on access to reliable broadband to thrive – in its farms, its industry, its communities. WISPA’s member companies are there providing access where others simply will not because it should not matter where one lives to get it. Consequently, they serve their local communities with broadband which scales, evolves and meets today’s and tomorrow’s myriad needs.

The Farm Bill will play an important role in the economy and daily lives of rural Americans. As it pertains to broadband, USDA programs which invite a diverse array of players will achieve greater results. Like anything else, more choice brings better outcomes. To this end, WISPA strongly encourages Congress to work toward a Farm Bill that among other things targets broadband funding to truly unserved locations on a tech-neutral basis, and avoids duplication of services financed by private and federal resources.

WISPA remains optimistic that the Farm Bill will achieve the aforementioned goals, and we look forward to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the USDA’s broadband programs truly invite WISPs and other small, non-traditional communications providers to the table.

About WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries
WISPA’s approximately 1000 members provide fixed broadband connectivity, and include equipment suppliers, support services, and other industry partners and stakeholders. Our members provide broadband access to millions of residential and business customers in rural, urban and Tribal areas across America.
 
Contact
Mike Wendy
WISPA
202-763-5257
mwendy@wispa.org