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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Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
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Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
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Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.
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