There has been a lot of progress made in connecting rural America with high-speed internet.
However, one economist says that there is still a ways to go.
According to Jeff Johnston, an economist with Ecobank, “We’re moving in the right direction, but we’re not where we need to be quite yet. There is $42.5 billion that was earmarked out of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, and specifically, it’s the BEAD Program within that piece of legislation, and that’s really exciting. That’s an unprecedented amount of capital, an unprecedented amount of money that the government has set aside to support building out rural broadband networks to get those who are not connected connected.”
One of the largest obstacles with connectivity is getting the copper wiring laid out in rural areas.
Johnston says the BEAD Program has not made much progress yet, but says that he is hoping more can be done in the coming months.
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As AI-driven data centers expand in rural South Texas, local officials and economists debate water use, farmland impacts, and the balance between technology growth and agriculture preservation.
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Summer fuel rules cap ethanol demand and limit corn upside.
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Roger McEowen breaks down the EPA’s updated dicamba regulations and shares what farmers need to do to remain compliant under the new rules this growing season.
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Jarrod Hardke with the University of Arkansas break down extreme drought conditions, shifting planting decisions, and the impact of rising input costs on Arkansas agriculture this season.
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