Trump, Tennessee Push for Rural Broadband

“Farmers need rural broadband to be competitive in the marketplace like any small business”

Todd Littleton is a farmer in northern Gibson County. He says rural broadband infrastructure and rural internet access are hugely important to modern farmers

“We use the internet to check grain prices, check local cash based prices from our local elevators. Cattle guys use the internet to check sale prices. Just a whole host of things that a business would use the internet for that helps keep us competitive with anyone else.”

The issue of rural broadband access took turn in the national spotlight last week when President Donald Trump singed an executive order aimed to promote more expansion of rural broadband infrastructure.

The topic was also one of the main points brought up by us senate candidate Marsha Blackburn at the southwest Tennessee Development District luncheon back on January 3rd.

Black burn addressed the crowd, “Off the farm, our rural neighbors it’s important for them. Lots of healthcare is starting to be access through broadband or at least information regarding healthcare, government services are starting to be accessible through broadband and just the general business and communication opportunities that broadband brings to rural areas.”

Farmers wouldn't be the only ones to benefit from the expansion of rural broadband according to Matt Fennel of the Tennessee Farm Bureau. He says, “Off the farm, our rural neighbors its important for them.”

Lots of healthcare is starting to be access through broadband or at least information regarding healthcare, government services are starting to be accessible through broadband and just the general business and communication opportunities that broadband brings to rural areas

Fennel even likened the potential impact of broadband in rural communities to when electricity was brought to farms in the mid-20th century