Proclaiming October 4 as “Broadband WORKS for Rural America Advocacy Day,” more than 125 farmers, ranchers, teachers, small business owners and others from rural communities and small towns across the U.S. gathered in the nation’s capital to highlight the cause and press their case.

The event was a collaboration of members of the U.S. Cattlemen's Association, National Grange, Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE), local chambers of commerce, and others from across the country, with support from the Internet Innovation Alliance (News - Alert). Participants held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol and then fanned out to meet with members of Congress, the offices of Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to lobby on how and why access to high-speed broadband will improve their lives, support economic development and create jobs locally.

In a case where politics does make strange bed fellows, the message was strikingly similar to the remarks by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (News - Alert) last week, especially his emphasis on “filling in the gaps.”  

An interesting group of speakers lent their voice and support to the push to make deployment of broadband communications infrastructure in rural areas a priority.

Kicking off the events of the day, Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) stated, "Lack of access to high-speed broadband Internet puts rural communities across the country at a serious disadvantage… Broadband is the great economic and social equalizer of our time, and expanding high-speed Internet access to rural America will give more communities the tools they need to create jobs, expand educational opportunities, and improve public safety and health care. Broadband will give small businesses in rural areas a pathway to participation in the global economy and provides the framework for long-term economic growth and stability for years to come."

Jon Chadwell, Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission in Newport, Arkansas, recounted a project he spearheaded to expand high-speed Internet access to the local industrial park. It is home to three businesses that were losing clients due to a lack of access to broadband, but thanks to Chadwell's work there is now a broadband connection to the Internet and companies have added 325 local jobs in just six years.

To illustrate why broadband ubiquity was important, Jess Peterson, Executive Vice President of the U.S. Cattlemen's Association stated that, "Regardless of location or occupation, the need for reliable, high-speed Internet, both wired and wireless, is something that everyone can agree on. In rural America in particular, there are acres of opportunity for economic growth, but greater access to next-generation technologies is key to capitalizing on these opportunities." An organizer of the event, he added that, "Right now, Americans need jobs, and we need to make sure that all Americans have the tools to create and sustain them. I believe we successfully delivered that message to policymakers this week."

The facts are that today, some 26 million Americans in largely rural areas across the nation lack high-speed connections to the Internet and mobile broadband. The event was designed to enable a diverse number of rural perspectives to personally tell their unique stories about the transformative potential of high-speed broadband to Federal lawmakers.

For those unfamiliar with it, the FCC (News - Alert) has a useful tool for looking at broadband availability across demographic characteristics in the U.S. The National Broadband Map allows visitors various views and inputs to see where broadband is or is not available based on such attributes as: population density, age, income and education. While some critics say the tool has flaws, the reality is, it is a good first effort that is improving over time.  Unfortunately, it paints a picture that underscores the sponsors of the day’s activities.

 
Consumer Broadband Test vs Advertised or Typical This map displays the results of the FCC's Consumer Broadband Test and allows comparison against advertised speeds or reported typical speeds.

As mentioned in a posting about ERF Wireless (News - Alert) and its expansion to provide people and industries in sparsely populated but economically critical parts of the country wireless broadband services, filling in the gaps has to be a national priority because every part of the country can be an important contributor to job creation and economic vitality. Geography should not be an acceptable excuse for lack of critical services.

A good place to close is with the statement of major sponsor Ed Luttrell, National Grange President. He stated that, "Never before in our efforts have we seen so many diverse organizations, telecommunications companies, and advocacy groups at the same table with the same commitment and vision. I believe the drumbeat of increased access to broadband in rural America has been heard in our nation's capital this week."

It will be interesting to see if being heard results in action.