Commerce and USDA Host Broadband Stimulus Workshop in Arkansas

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) met in Lonoke, Ark., and held the sixth of 10 public forums designed to help prospective grantees apply for $4 billion in broadband grants and loans under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's forum followed Vice President Biden's announcement this month of the availability of $4 billion in Recovery Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to unserved and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure. USDA RUS Chief of Staff Lisa Zaina participated in the public forum series and Senator Mark L. Pryor Provided Video Remarks. "Expanding access to broadband in communities throughout rural America is a major goal of the Obama administration because it is critical for future economic success," said Zaina. "Today's workshop is an important part of the effort to expand broadband to unserved and underserved communities in the region to enable all communities to compete in the 21st century economy."

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.ret...