Rep. Greg Davids has announced a listening session about rural Internet service at 1 p.m. Friday at the Spring Valley Community Center. It's about time.
Davids and the Republican Party have opposed adequate funding for rural broadband. Fillmore and Houston counties especially have been shortchanged by inadequate investment in broadband. Thanks to advocacy by Democrats, $30 million in state dollars has been awarded in the past two years for 32 rural projects. But not a dime of this money has gone to Fillmore or Houston counties.
I have been a satisfied DSL customer in Lanesboro for 15 years. But many of our neighbors don't have access to our level of service. This is not right. Our local Internet service providers need more help to improve rural broadband, as was recommended by the Governor's Broadband Task Force.
Excellent Internet infrastructure is key to economic progress in the future. If we want jobs, good education and young people in Fillmore and Houston counties, this issue needs be on the front burner.
If you happen to not be working at 1 p.m. and have nothing else to do on the Friday before Christmas, come to Spring Valley to ask Davids why he is finally pretending to have vision after so many years of dragging his feet on investing in rural broadband infrastructure.
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Frank Wright
Lanesboro
