The farm bill fight that will shape rural broadband

kAm$6?2E6 p8C:4F=EFC6 r@>>:EE66 r92:C>2? y@9? q@@K>2?[ 2 #6AF3=:42? 7C@> pC<2?D2D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A@=:E:4@]4@>^=:G6\FA52E6D^a_ae^_g^_e^4@?8C6DD^3@@K>2?\E@\C64@?G6?6\72C>\3:==\>2C<FA\27E6C\72:=65\G@E6\_`_afdgaQm96=5 2 >2C<FA 962C:?8k^2m @? 9:D G6CD:@? @7 E96 72C> 3:== @? %9FCD52J[ pF8] e] xE 5:5?’E 8@ G6CJ H6==]k^Am

kAmx? E96 =@?8\56=2J65 >:=6DE@?6 >66E:?8 – H9:49 4@F=5 F=E:>2E6=J C6D92A6 CFC2= p>6C:42?D’ 4@??64E:@?D E@ E96 :?E6C?6E – #6AF3=:42?D H6C6 F?23=6 E@ >@G6 E96:C 3:== 7@CH2C5] s6>@4C2ED 96=5 E@86E96C[ 2?5 E96 23D6?46 @7 EH@ v~! D6?2E@CD[ %@>>J %F36CG:==6 @7 p=232>2 2?5 |:E49 |4r@??6== @7 z6?EF4<J[ >62?E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DFDE2:?23=628C:4F=EFC6]?6E^3=@8^E96\D6?2E6\72C>\3:==\>2C<FA\H92E\92AA6?65\2?5\H92ED\?6IE^Qm>62DFC6 72:=65k^2m @? 2 `_\`` G@E6]k^Am

kAm|@DE A6@A=6 E9:?< @7 E96 72C> 3:== AC:>2C:=J 3642FD6 @7 :ED 4@??64E:@?D E@ 4C@A :?DFC2?46[ 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46 DFAA@CED[ 2?5 E96 $FAA=6>6?E2= }FEC:E:@? pDD:DE2?46 !C@8C2> W$}p!X] qFE E96 =68:D=2E:@?[ H9:49 r@?8C6DD C62FE9@C:K6D C@F89=J 6G6CJ 7:G6 J62CD[ 8@G6C?D 2? 6?@C>@FD DH2E9 @7 p>6C:42? 28C:4F=EFC2= 2?5 CFC2= A@=:4J[ :?4=F5:?8 4@?D6CG2E:@? AC@8C2>D[ 72C> 4C65:E[ CFC2= H2E6C 2?5 H2DE6H2E6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ 7@C6DECJ[ 2?5 6?6C8J]k^Am

kAm%96 4FCC6?E 7:89E 36EH66? E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 @G6C $}p! 7F?5:?8 =6G6=D 92D 366? E96 =@F56DE @3DE24=6 E@ A2DD286[ 2?5 AC@G65 E@ 36 E96 42D6 @? pF8] e] qFE EF4<65 :?D:56 E96 72C> 3:==’D CFC2= 56G6=@A>6?E E:E=6 :D 2 AC@G:D:@? E92E 8@G6C?D E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD52]8@G^DFDE2:?23:=:EJ^:?7C2DECF4EFC6^3C@2532?5^C64@??64E\=@2?\2?5\8C2?E\AC@8C2>Qm#6r@??64E 3C@2532?5 AC@8C2>k^2m]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52:=JJ@?56C]4@>^Qm%96 s2:=J *@?56Ck^2m 6I2>:?65 9@H E96 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 7:89E @G6C E96 72C> 3:== H:== :>A24E 7656C2= CFC2= 3C@2532?5 AC@8C2>D]k^Am

k9bm(92E’D 2E $E2<6 :? E96 u2C> q:== 7@C qC@2532?5k^9bm

kAm#6r@??64E 92D AC@G:565 >@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^?C642\5:D4FDD6D\A@=:4:6D\7F?5:?8\?66565\7@C\CFC2=\3C@2532?5^QmSc]c 3:==:@? :? =@2?D 2?5 8C2?EDk^2m 7@C CFC2= 3C@2532?5 56A=@J>6?E D:?46 a_`g[ C6249:?8 D@>6 @7 p>6C:42’D >@DE C6>@E6 2?5 6IA6?D:G6\E@\D6CG6 4@>>F?:E:6D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^9@FD6\A2DD6D\72C>\3:==^Qm%96 w@FD6 72C> 3:==[ A2DD65 :? pAC:= 3J 2 ?2CC@H aac\a__ >2C8:?[ H@F=5 6IE6?5 7F?5:?8 7@C #6r@??64E E9C@F89 a_b`k^2m]k^Am

kAmqFE E96 w@FD6 G6CD:@? D6ED >:?:>F> AC@;64E DA665D 2E ;FDE d_ |6823:ED A6C D64@?5 W|3ADX 7@C 5@H?=@25D 2?5 ad |3AD 7@C FA=@25D] p?5 :E C6DEC:4ED 6=:8:3:=:EJ E@ 2C62D =24<:?8 ad |3AD 7@C 5@H?=@25D 2?5 b |3AD 7@C FA=@25D 7@C D6CG:46] rC:E:4D D2J E92E[ 2D H:E9 AC6G:@FD 3C@2532?5 AC@8C2>D DF49 2D E96 r@??64E p>6C:42 uF?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EC2?D:E:@?]744]8@G^s2:=J0#6=62D6D^s2:=J0qFD:?6DD^a_`c^53`a``^s~r\bb_hghp`]A57Qm56A=@J:?8 3C@2532?5k^2m 2E `_ |3AD 7@C 5@H?=@25D 2?5 ` |3AD 7@C FA=@25D[ DF49 =@H E9C6D9@=5D H@F=5 5@@> CFC2= p>6C:42 E@ 2 =@H6C E:6C @7 D6CG:46]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^D6?2E6\72C>\3:==\H@F=5\4@5:7J\C64@??64E\AC@8C2>^Qm%96 AC@A@D65 $6?2E6 G6CD:@? E2<6D 2 >@C6 2>3:E:@FD 2AAC@249k^2m] x? 255:E:@? E@ >2<:?8 #6r@??64E A6C>2?6?E[ :E H@F=5 FD6 9:896C C6BF:C65 DA665D 2?5 3C@256C 6=:8:3:=:EJ] pE 2 AC6G:@FD 962C:?8 @? E96 E@A:4 367@C6 E96 $6?2E6 p8C:4F=EFC6 r@>>:EE66[ y6DD6 $96<=6E@?[ 5:C64E@C @7 qC@2532?5 ~A6C2E:@?D 2E y@\r2CC@== t?6C8J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^72C>\3:==\D9@F=5\:?4=F56\9:896C\3C@2532?5\DA665\C6BF:C6>6?ED^QmAFD965 7@C E96 9:896C DA665 DE2?52C5k^2m] “s6>2?5D 7@C 32?5H:5E9 @? 72C>D H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8C@H[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 72C> 3:== 2=D@ >2EE6CD 7@C 3C@2532?5 36J@?5 #6r@??64E] q@E9 E96 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 G6CD:@?D H@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?8C6DD]8@G^3:==^``hE9\4@?8C6DD^9@FD6\3:==^fdef^E6IEQm4@5:7J E649?:42= 2DD:DE2?46k^2m 7@C CFC2= 3C@2532?5 A=2??:?8 2?5 :?4=F56 AC@G:D:@?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^@C:6==J\H2?ED\=FE?:4<\E@\96=A\<:==\FD52D\3C@2532?5\AC@8C2>D^QmAC6G6?E:?8 #6r@??64E 7C@> @G6C=2AA:?8k^2m H:E9 E96 qC@2532?5 tBF:EJ[ p446DD[ 2?5 s6A=@J>6?E WqtpsX 8C2?E AC@8C2> @7 E96 &]$] r@>>6C46 s6A2CE>6?E]k^Am

k9bm&?56C %9C62E uC@> q@E9 $:56Dk^9bm

kAmtG6? 2D r@?8C6DD 5632E6D 9@H E@ DEC6?8E96? #6r@??64E[ E96 AC@8C2> 7246D AC6DDFC6 7C@> 2? F?6IA64E65 5:C64E:@?i %96 &$sp :ED6=7 AC@A@D65 42?46=:?8 Sc_ >:==:@? :? F?FD65 #6r@??64E 7F?5D :? :ED 7:D42= J62C a_af 3F586E C6BF6DE] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^C64@??64E\7F?5:?8\C6DE@C65\:?\7Ja_af\FD52\3:==^Qmw@FD6 2AAC@AC:2E@CD 3C@<6 H:E9 E92E C6BF6DE 2?5 C6DE@C65 E96 7F?5:?8 :? pAC:=k^2m[ 2 C2C6 :?DE2?46 @7 r@?8C6DD @G6CCF=:?8 2? 286?4J @? :ED @H? AC@8C2> 3F586E]k^Am

kAmqFE H:E9 qtps >@?6J ?@H 7=@H:?8[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^42==D\8C@H\E@\6=:>:?2E6\FD52\3C@2532?5\AC@8C2>\H2E495@8\8C@FA\D2JD^Qm42==D E@ 6=:>:?2E6 &$sp 3C@2532?5 AC@8C2>D 2D 5FA=:42E:G6 92G6 8C@H? =@F56Ck^2m]k^Am

k9bmqC@2532?5 }@H ‘%23=6 $E2<6D’ 7@C #FC2= t4@?@>:4 s6G6=@A>6?Ek^9bm

kAmqC@2532?5 2?5 CFC2= 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E H2D E96 DF3;64E @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^CFC2=\3C@2532?5\A2JD\@77\@?=J\H96?\4@>>F?:E:6D\564:56\A2?6=:DED\D2J^Qm(65?6D52J’D qC@2532?5 qC62<72DE {:G6 ~?=:?6 5:D4FDD:@?k^2m] x? :E[ A2?6=:DED D2:5 E92E 3C@2532?5 92D 364@>6 E96 AC:46 @7 25>:DD:@? 7@C 2 CFC2= 4@>>F?:EJ C2E96C E92? 2 8C@HE9 DEC2E68J @? :ED @H?]k^Am

kAm(6==\4@??64E65 CFC2= 4@F?E:6D D66 `gT 9:896C A6C 42A:E2 :?4@>6 2?5 23@FE a`_T 9:896C 3FD:?6DD 8C@HE9 4@>A2C65 E@ F?56CD6CG65 A66CD[ A6C 2 r6?E6C 7@C #FC2= x??@G2E:@? DEF5J 4:E65 3J q2CE=6EE r=6=2?5[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 x??@G2E:@? t4@?@>J p==:2?46]k^Am

kAmp=D@ 4@?EC:3FE:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^52:=J\J@?56C^Qm5:D4FDD:@?k^2m H2D p>J wF77>2?[ A@=:4J 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= s:8:E2= x?4=FD:@? p==:2?46[ H9@ 4:E65 96C a_`` >2DE6C’D E96D:D @? E96 BF6DE:@? @7 H96E96C CFC2= C6D:56?ED H@F=5 86E @?=:?6 :7 ?6EH@C<D H6C6 3F:=E] w6C 2?DH6C[ 3@E9 E96? 2?5 ?@H[ :D >2J36]k^Am

kAmp=D@ H6:89:?8 :? @? E96 36?67:ED 7@C CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D H2D y@?2E92? r92>36CD[ 4@\rt~ @7 r@?6I@?[ H9:49 H@C<D H:E9 4@\@AD E@ 3F:=5 7:36C ?6EH@C<D[ 2?5 92D 96=A65 EC2?D7@C> 4@??64E:G:EJ :? >2?J CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am

k9bm~? E96 vC@F?5[ qtps xD v6EE:?8 r@>A=:42E65k^9bm

kAm~? 2?@E96C 7C@?E[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?5FD2]?E:2]8@G^7F?5:?8\AC@8C2>D^3C@2532?5\6BF:EJ\2446DD\2?5\56A=@J>6?E\3625\AC@8C2>QmSca]d 3:==:@? qtps AC@8C2>k^2m :D ?@H 364@>:?8 @A6C2E:@?2= :? DE2E6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ H:E9 AC@G:56CD >@G:?8 :?E@ A6C>:EE:?8 2?5 62C=J 4@?DECF4E:@?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^>:??6D@E2D\7:CDE\3625\4@?EC24E\=2?5D^Qm|:??6D@E2 D:8?65 :ED 7:CDE 4@?DECF4E:@? 4@?EC24Ek^2m F?56C E96 7656C2= AC@8C2> @? yF=J b_]k^Am

kAmr2=:7@C?:2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^42=:7@C?:2\3625\A=2?\2AAC@G65^Qm4=62C65 7656C2= C6G:6H yF=J `fk^2m[ H9:=6 x==:?@:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^:==:?@:D\3625\A=2?\2AAC@G65^Qm3642>6 E96 =2DE DE2E6 2AAC@G65 7@C E96 7656C2= AC@8C2>k^2m @? pF8] ad 27E6C H2:E:?8 @? D:8?\@77 7C@> 3@E9 E96 }2E:@?2= %6=64@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 x?7@C>2E:@? p5>:?:DEC2E:@? W}%xpX 2?5 E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 @7 $E2?52C5D 2?5 %649?@=@8J]k^Am

kAmqFE 36:?8 2AAC@G65 :D ?@E E96 D2>6 2D 36:?8 3F:=E] |:??6D@E2’D AC@;64ED H:== C6249 fc[fbh =@42E:@?D H:E9 Sbfg]h >:==:@? :? 7656C2= >@?6J 2?5 ?62C=J S`h_ >:==:@? :? >2E49:?8 7F?5D] %96 DE2E6 >FDE A=246 :ED C6>2:?:?8 :?:E:2= AC@;64ED F?56C 4@?EC24E 3J ~4E] g] v6EE:?8 E96 7:CDE @?6 D:8?65 E@@< >@C6 E92? `g C@F?5D @7 C6G:D:@?D H:E9 7656C2= C6G:6H6CD]k^Am

kAmp?5 @7E6?[ E96 7:89ED 2C6 @G6C A@=6D] t=64EC:4 4@@A6C2E:G6D[ H9:49 @H? >F49 @7 E96 6I:DE:?8 A@=6 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? CFC2= p>6C:42 2?5 2C6 H6==\A@D:E:@?65 E@ 3F:=5 3C@2532?5 2=@?8D:56 :E[ 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^6=64EC:4\4@\@AD\7:?5:?8\3625\CF=6D\@?6C@FD\6DA64:2==J\@?\A@=6D^Qm7:?5:?8 qtps’D A@=6 2EE249>6?E CF=6D @?6C@FDk^2m] %H@ 4@\@AD D2:5 E96J EFC?65 5@H? E6?E2E:G6 qtps 2H2C5D 6?E:C6=J 3642FD6 4@>A=:2?46 4@DED >256 E96 AC@;64ED F?H@C<23=6]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^?E:2\5676?5D\3625\A@=6\CF=6D^Qm}%xp[ 9@H6G6C[ 92D 5676?565 E9:D A@=6\2EE249>6?E A@=:4Jk^2m 2D ?646DD2CJ 7@C 56A=@J>6?E]k^Am

k9bm$E2C=:?< r92?86D E96 |2E9 – p82:?k^9bm

kAmp? 244@F?E:?8 @7 CFC2= 3C@2532?5 :? >:5\a_ae 92D E@ 8C2AA=6 H:E9 $E2C=:?<[ 2 <6J A2CE @7 t=@? |FD<’D ?@H\AF3=:4 4@>A2?J[ $A246)] {@H\t2CE9 @C3:E D2E6==:E6 :?E6C?6E 92D :>AC@G65 5C2>2E:42==J :? DA665 2?5 C6=:23:=:EJ[ D@ >F49 D@ E92E $E2C=:?<’D A6C7@C>2?46 :D D9@H:?8 FA :? 423=6 4@>A2?J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^D96?E6=\FA\e\___\7:36C\DF3D\D66:?8\D@>6\DE2C=:?<\4@>A6E:E:@?^Qm"a 62C?:?8D 42==Dk^2m]k^Am

kAmr@>42DE[ r92CE6C[ 2?5 $96?E6= 92G6 2== 72465 BF6DE:@?D 7C@> (2== $EC66E 2?2=JDED 23@FE CFC2= 4FDE@>6C =@DD6D E@ D2E6==:E6 — 2 D:8?2= E92E $E2C=:?< :D ?@H 2 86?F:?6 4@>A6E:E:G6 E9C62E :? >2C<6ED E9@D6 4@>A2?:6D 2DDF>65 H6C6 42AE:G6]k^Am

kAm%9:D 7665D E96 2C8F>6?E @7 D@>6 E92E 7656C2= AC@8C2>D 2C6 C24:?8 E@ 3F:=5 7:36C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E92E 4@>>6C4:2= D2E6==:E6 92D 2=C625J C6?56C65 F??646DD2CJ] qFE E92E 2C8F>6?E 5@6D?’E 244@F?E 7@C 6I24E=J 9@H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^7656C2=\3C@2532?5\A@=:4J\:D\:?4C62D:?8=J\36:?8\C642DE\2C@F?5\D2E6==:E6^Qm42A24:EJ\4@?DEC2:?65 $E2C=:?< :Dk^2m :? 56?D6\FD6 D46?2C:@D] xE 2=D@ 5@6D?’E 244@F?E 7@C BF6DE:@?23=6 C6=:23:=:EJ DE2?52C5D 7@C $E2C=:?< – 2D 8@@5 2D :E :D – G6CDFD DJ>>6EC:42= 7:36C ?6EH@C<D]k^Am

kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 H2D AC@5F465 :? 4@==23@C2E:@? H:E9k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^Qmk6>mqC@2532?5 qC62<72DEk^6>mk^2mk6>m[ 2k^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3C@2532?53C62<72DE]4@>^23@FEQmk6>m?6HD 2?5 6G6?ED 4@>>F?:EJk^6>mk^2m k6>m7@4FD65 @? 3C@2532?5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ :?G6DE>6?E[ 2?5 :>A24E]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52:=JJ@?56C]4@>^E96\72C>\3:==\7:89E\E92E\H:==\D92A6\CFC2=\3C@2532?5^a_ae^_g^``^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52:=JJ@?56C]4@>Qmk6>m%96 s2:=J *@?56Ck^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am