Since last summer’s Farm Fest – if not earlier – I’ve heard people complain that opportunities were lost when the Border to Border Broadband grant budget was reduced last year. Currently there’s a huge gap between what the Senate ($85 million) and the House ($40 million) want to invest in broadband. The broadband budget has been lumped into a discussion of the budget bill. The danger is that the passion legislators have shown for broadband in the past will get lost of the mix.

If you think broadband is a top priority, then it’s important to continue to turn on the heat and let your representative know. (Not everyone thinks it’s a priority and they will be advocating for their own priorities.) The Senate and the House have named conferees to work out the difference in the Senate and House budget bills:

– Sen. Dick Cohen
– Sen. Tony Loury
– Sen. Tom Saxhaug
– Sen. Chuck Wiger
– Sen. Michele Fischbach

– Rep. Jim Knoblauch
– Rep. Pat Garofalo
– Rep. Jennifer Loon
– Rep. Matt Dean
– Rep. Denny McNamara

See your representative on the list? You should definitely make a call. If not, call your representative and these folks.