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More rural broadband grants announced

The Obama administration has announced another round of broadband grants, designed to bring high-speed internet connections to rural and poor areas of the U.S.

Thirty-seven of the grants target rural America.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the projects will create jobs and stimulate local economies.

“Over time, it will also help farmers and ranchers have real-time information on weather and commodity markets, which will allow them to make more—and better-informed decisions—for their operations,” Vilsack says. “It will help small businesses expand their markets from a local market to a global market.”

Vilsack says the grants will also help rural schools.

“It will work to ensure that schools with limited course offerings in rural areas will be able to expand, through distance learning, courses that will be available to their students,” he says, “making those students better prepared for a 21^st century economy.”

Among the 23 states receiving grants are Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin.  A complete list of the projects can be found at www.usda.gov.

AUDIO: Vilsack announcement (5 min MP3)