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Digital Inclusion

US rural internet project continues despite budget cut

By Pia Rufino | 23 June 2011

The US government will continue to implement the rural internet programme in spite of massive cuts to federal funding to improve broadband internet services to underserved rural areas in the country.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities service provided US$22.3 million this year to expand high-speed Internet in rural areas to lay about 800 miles of fibre optic cable.

However, the Agriculture Appropriations Act, which passed the US House early this month, will cut much of the funding for the Internet programme.

Congressman Bill Owens said in a press release that increased economic development and better health care in rural regions are directly related to the availability of high-speed Internet service. He also said investment in broadband infrastructure is critical to the future success of upstate New York.

The bill originally called for zeroing out the funding for the programme, but Owens and Congressman Chris Gibson introduced an amendment to restore US$6 million in funding to the programme to keep it going for another year.

The agriculture bill includes funding for rural development and agriculture. It likewise includes funding for Food and Drug Administration and other miscellaneous programmes.

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