Articles tagged under: rural broadband
Paid Family and Medical Leave Passes in MN
Published May 9, 2023
The Minnesota Senate passed paid family and medical leave legislation by a vote of 34-to-33. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Aric Putnam said this bill will help mid-sized businesses provide this employee benefit. "It's gotten better through the process of government…Top Story #8: Infrastructure Bill Signed Into Law
Published December 30, 2021
In November, Congress passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package and then, President Biden signed it into law. For years, lawmakers talked about passing an infrastructure bill, but failed to reach an agreement on the price. This year, lawmakers pushed…Rural Broadband Grants Available from USDA
Published November 24, 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking applications for grants and loans to help rural areas get high speed internet. There’s $1.5 billion available in the USDA’s ReConnect Program. Those applying must commit to building facilities capable of providing broadband…What’s Included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
Published November 7, 2021
The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package designates $110 billion for roads and bridges with $66 billion for rail improvements. There’s $65 billion included for high-speed internet investments. For agriculture, there's funding included for a biobased pilot program and updates to the…A Closer Look at Rural Broadband Investments
Published August 13, 2021
The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passed in the Senate last week has $65 billion available for rural broadband investments. The Rural Broadband Association Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield says $42.5 billion of that will go towards broadband distribution. "That's deployment…ND Receives USDA Broadband Funds
Published August 11, 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $167 million in 12 states to improve broadband infrastructure. North Dakota is one of those states, with two grants and one loan going to the Halstad Telephone Company and Polar Communications Mutual Aid…Broadband Touted at Biden’s Wisconsin Appearance
Published June 30, 2021
President Joe Biden was scheduled to visit a dairy farm northwest of Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. However, the plan changed and Biden traveled to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to promote the infrastructure bill. In addition to roads…Vilsack Outlines Discretionary Budget Needs in House Hearing
Published April 14, 2021
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made a case for the USDA's Fiscal Year 2022 discretionary budget on Wednesday, testifying in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. Climate change, addressing systemic racism, nutrition and resiliency in agriculture are four big…White House Unveils Infrastructure Plan Details
Published March 31, 2021
The White House released more details about the $2.25 trillion American Jobs Plan. President Biden’s plan is to modernize 20,000 miles of highways, roads and main streets, repairing the 10 most economically significant bridges in the country and the worst…