WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an unexpected coincidence, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee communications experienced several malfunctions during a hearing regarding rural infrastructure – where many of the panelists spoke about the importance of communications to maintain and improve rural communities.

 

The microphones and recording equipment failed to operate properly, cutting out several times during Committee Chair Michael Conaway’s opening remarks at the late-July hearing.

Equipment glitches continued even after a recess of about 10 minutes to try to fix the problem, and acted as a highlight to how dependent Americans are on technology.

Providing farmers with broadband, roads and waterways to transport produce and access to safe water and wastewater systems was the primary focus of speakers during this hearing on rural infrastructure. “We’ve all heard the news reports about the impact aging infrastructure has on our ability to trade, travel and communicate. But perhaps nowhere is the need to renew our infrastructure greater than in America’s heartland,” Conaway (R-Texas) said.

While all states are facing challenges over water, bridges and roadways, in rural America the need is unique because of the commodities. Items produced on farms need to be transported to factories, stores and overseas markets.

“Our modern economy is built on the free movement of goods and ideas. We cannot grow our nation’s economy if 50 million rural Americans are unable to participate,” he said.

Tom Halverson, president and CEO of CoBank in Washington, D.C., spoke on behalf of the Farm Credit System. He said billions of dollars need to be invested in rural America’s infrastructure to improve roads, communications and locks and dams – but also to modernize hospitals, schools and walk-in clinics that contribute to quality of life.

Without the communications system in place, farmers will not be able to use all the technology available to them and small businesses will not be able to grow.

 

“It is essential for our county seniors to have a hospital nearby and it wouldn’t be possible without a high-speed, high-capacity broadband connection,” said Jennifer L. Otwell, vice president and general manager with Totelcom Communications, LLC, speaking on behalf of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Assoc. (NTCA) - The Rural Broadband Assoc.

She said the need hospitals have for broadband is just one way she’s seen how important such access is to rural America, but the expense of providing the service causes rollout to be slow.

While the Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) program is well designed and helps finance efforts to install broadband, the funds aren’t enough and Congress needs to help fully fund the program and make obtaining federal easements easier.

“The best-funded, best-planned networks may never deliver fully on their promise if they are caught in regulatory red tape and needless delay,” Otwell said. “Broadband access in rural America lags behind urban areas despite the best efforts, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of NTCA’s members.”

She said 15 percent of NTCA member customers don’t have access to reliable broadband, while the Federal Communications Commission has indicated that 90 percent of Americans already have affordable access.