Biden unveils stimulus projects for rural access to broadband

December 18, 2009|Errin Haines, Associated Press

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. - Vice President Joe Biden yesterday announced the first $182 million in federal stimulus money for 18 projects to expand high-speed Internet networks in rural areas and other underserved communities.

Biden spoke at Impulse Manufacturing, a technologically advanced metalworks in north Georgia whose business has been held back by the lack of a broadband network in its part of the state.

The projects are the first part of a $7.2 billion plan to bring high-speed Internet connections to rural areas, poor neighborhoods and Native American communities.

Besides Georgia, other projects in the first set will be in Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Arizona, and Alaska.

Joined by Governor Sonny Perdue, Biden told a crowd of workers, business leaders and lawmakers that creating the networks could help smaller businesses compete globally.

The administration plans to award $2 billion in grants and loans on a rolling basis over the next 75 days as it starts doling out the first round of stimulus funding for broadband, which Biden said could be used to help struggling rural areas like Dawsonville with distance learning, telemedicine and real-time pricing for farmers.

He also tied broadband to the future success of US industry and the middle class.

“We were losing ground for the past 25 years in manufacturing,’’ Biden said. “We don’t want an economy built on another bubble. We want to do what our grandparents did ... and build on a solid foundation.’’