Patty Murray: “I am pleased that Chairman Harkin and Senator Lugar accepted my amendment on rural telecommunications to the Farm Bill…”

“I am pleased that Chairman Harkin and Senator Lugar accepted my amendment on rural telecommunications to the Farm Bill that passed the Senate yesterday. My amendment simply adds a small planning component to the scope of acceptable activities for grants in the bill to help rural communities get connected to broadband telecommunications services. Specifically, my amendment would provide access to broadband planning and feasibility grants to rural communities, with a maximum of $250,000 for statewide grants and $100,000 for regional grants. The total resources would be no more than $3 million per year for this purpose. State governments, regional consortia of local governments, tribal governments, cooperatives, and State and regional non-profit entities would be eligible to receive the grants. As small and rural communities across the country try to get connected to advanced telecommunications services, they need help in the planning stage. And this amendment will give them the help they need.”