To combat this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that more grant funds are being made available to support broadband internet access in rural communities. As much as $105 million will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"Broadband is critical to the Obama administration's strategy to rebuild rural America because it opens the way for expansion of business, education, and health care opportunities in rural areas and assists in making the nation's small towns and rural communities more competitive," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
The USDA's Rural Utilities Service will provide the funds through the ARRA. This will be the final round that grant proposals will be taken through the broadband program.
In addition to providing money, members of the Obama administration went on a tour of rural communities last year to hear their concerns, including those involving rural communication infrastructure. Officials also outlined their own plans to provide additional access to people in those areas.
