KSFY reports on Senator Tina Smith and her take on the Farm Bill…

But Smith then says there is a third component she is trying to work into the farm bill. “Our farm bill needs to include strong rural development programs like, for example, what I’m proposing to help expand rural broadband.”

That broadband component is becoming more and more of an issue for rural areas.
Iowa’s lieutenant governor Adam Gregg is working on a similar bill specific to that state.
For rural families, broadband access comes down to a practical quality of life issue; the ability to download music, movies and the ability for farmers to quickly and easily connect to the internet for everything from market quotes to supply purchases.
But having easy access to broadband in rural areas also makes those areas more likely to land new businesses and new residents. Without out it can seem like the technological dark ages. “My broadband proposal I hope will be in this legislation.”