High-Speed Internet in the Heartland: The Challenges and Opportunities of Rural Broadband

Rural communities are increasingly challenged by changes to their traditional economic base. New technologies have forced change in familiar industries, and employers must accommodate to remain competitive. In the residential sector, such technologies have the potential to advance community relationships. Expanding broadband, or high-speed internet, and the adoption of the latest platforms that come in over it, has made everything local, global. Virtual events and meetings, for instance, build truly long-distance relationships in a click. Large health and medical services achieve hitherto unimaginable market penetration.

The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics is hosting a webinar on rural broadband moderated by past president Roger Coupal, and headlined by four panelists:

– Alex Marre is a regional economist at the Baltimore branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

– Mike Malandro is the president and CEO of Choptank Electric Cooperative where he has successfully launched a broadband deployment effort.

– Anna Read is the research officer at the Pew Charitable Trust’s broadband research initiative examining rural broadband.

– John Pender is a senior economist in the USDA’s Economics Research Service’s Rural Economy Branch, Resource and Rural Economics Division.

The 50-minute program will feature presentations from the three panelists followed by a moderated Q&A discussion that welcomes attendee input and participation.