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Congressman Owens backs legislation for comprehensive strategy to expand broadband to underserved areas

Posted 3/15/11

Congressman Bill Owens has introduced legislation that would create an Undersecretary position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to bring …

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Congressman Owens backs legislation for comprehensive strategy to expand broadband to underserved areas

Posted

Congressman Bill Owens has introduced legislation that would create an Undersecretary position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to bring expanded broadband access to underserved Americans.

Owens says there are redundant and overlapping programs throughout government aimed at promoting broadband access to the Internet, and his Rural Broadband Initiative Act of 2011 would save money and more efficiently meet the goals of increasing access.

“A recent report from the Government Accountability Office highlighted billions of dollars in taxpayer money that could be saved by consolidating or eliminating redundant programs, and we can start with the current broadband loan and grant programs that lack an overall strategic plan,” Owens said.

“Centralizing these under one office would help to cut down on duplicative programs, force the federal government to work more efficiently, and give the American taxpayer a bigger bang for their buck.”

The bill would serve rural areas in a variety of ways in addition to its intended effect on economic development. Increased broadband access will improve the quality of education students receive in rural areas, would make rural health care more efficient through electronic medical records, and would improve the efficiency of federal programs.

“When we look at the pockets of increased economic development in recent years, there is a direct relationship between access to high-speed Internet and the success of businesses in a region,” Owens said. “This bill will help to create the conditions necessary for upstate New York businesses to continue to move into the global marketplace, and make the area more attractive to outside businesses to expand into the region, creating jobs in the process.”