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EDITORIAL: Broadband: Who's got the ball?May 20, 2009 (Greene County Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- "Rural broadband is hard and it is expensive." That was a statement made more than a year ago by the director of business development for Virginia Broadband, LLC, in an interview with the Record on the status of broadband here in the county. In the same article, Michael Harvey of the Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development said that having wireless broadband has become like "water, gas and electricity." "It's expected," he said. If anything, that statement stands even more true. And the issue is as critical as ever. But ask local leaders the question about expanding wireless service here and you might get a heavy sigh in response. It's a tough nut to crack. And it's hard to nail down just who is carrying the ball on the matter. Or even if anyone has picked up the ball at all. In the meantime, the necessity of improved broadband connectivity in rural areas is making headlines nationally and throughout the state. It's gaining the attention of national leaders, including Gov. Tim Kaine. "Affordable high-speed telecommunication services for all citizens are essential to Virginia's success in the 21st century economy," Kaine said recently. It is also essential to local economic success. The County's plan to reel in prime businesses here lacks vital bait without wireless broadband service. At the very least, local decision makers need to recognize the importance of the issue to the future of the County and its citizens. To see more of the Greene County Record or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.greene-news.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Greene County Record, Stanardsville, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |