July 20, 2009
Previously published on July 13, 2009
During his confirmation hearing last Tuesday, former FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein called rural broadband deployment key to his new post as administrator of the Agriculture Department's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). “I believe one of our key national priorities should be to aggressively promote the expansion of broadband deployment and adoption," Adelstein told the committee. "Some have argued that the reason we've fallen so far in the international rankings is that we are more rural than those ahead of us. If that is correct, we must cite it not as a despairing excuse but as a clarion call to re-double our efforts to promote rural broadband." Adelstein will keep in close contact with the FCC and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration as they combine to deliver broadband to unserved and underserved areas according to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin, D-IA, praised the President’s nomination of Adelstein. “The Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service plays a vital role in helping farmers, ranchers, and all citizens of rural communities across our nation enjoy modern electric, telecommunications, including broadband, water, and wastewater systems. These services are vital elements of economic progress and quality of life for rural communities.” The Committee confirmed Adelstein’s nomination and his confirmation is expected to be fast-tracked for a unanimous consent vote by the full Senate this week.
On the FCC front, the Senate Commerce Committee is poised to hold a hearing on July 15th to confirm Meredith Atwell Baker and Mignon Clyburn as FCC commissioners.
|