IARN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other federal agencies announced an interagency agreement to coordinate the distribution of broadband deployment funds last Friday. The USDA, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration signed the agreement. Each federal agency partner agrees to share information about existing or planned projects that receive funding from the various federal funding sources.
The agreement also requires the federal agency partners to consider basing the distribution of funds from the programs on standardized broadband coverage data. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says broadband “is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected,” adding, “USDA remains committed to being a strong partner with rural communities.”
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the announcement “lays important groundwork for collaboration between agencies to ensure the federal government’s efforts to expand broadband access are as effective and efficient as possible.”
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
