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Discusses Rural Utility Service Deployment Initiatives in Farm Bill

BOSTON – NextGenWeb.org today posted an exclusive video-cast interview with Thomas C. Dorr, Undersecretary for Rural Development at the Department of Agriculture. Dorr, the lead speaker on the “Bringing Broadband to Rural America� panel at the National Conference of State Legislators annual meeting in Boston outlined the Department’s views on how broadband access will improve life in rural America.

In the interview, the Under Secretary discusses various USDA broadband initiatives being pursued in this year’s Farm Bill. Dorr shares the three primary goals of the Department: first, to simplify the administrative process for ISPs in rural areas applying for loans; second, to direct loans to particularly underserved areas; and third, to create and enhance the quality of incentives to encourage the expansion of these services.

When asked if increased education on broadband applications like telemedicine and distance learning will boost the demand for services in rural America, Dorr says that “most rural Americans are already educated to the potential opportunities and benefits [of broadband]. As we better utilize and find the technology for health care, for education, for public safety, environmental monitoring and a number of other issues, we’re going to find out that people are very innovative in rural areas. This technology will make it possible for these Americans to live locally and compete globally.�

Dorr joined USDA in 2001 and was appointed to be Under Secretary for Rural Development in 2002.

To view the complete interview, please visit www.nextgenweb.org.

NextGenWeb.org is a blog sponsored by USTelecom.

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