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State Director Clark Joins State and Rural Leaders to Discuss Importance of Continued Broadband Deployment in Rural Kansas

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Darin Leach
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Kansas Patty Clark today participated in a wide-ranging broadband discussion with key leaders from throughout Kansas during a meeting hosted by Blue Valley Tele-Communications.

“Bringing broadband to rural Kansas is having a tremendous impact on many communities across the state,” Clark said. “This access means more jobs, better education and a higher quality of life. The economic viability of rural America, like all of America, depends on access to broadband. In 2009, the Obama Administration pushed for, and Congress provided USDA with, an unprecedented level of funding through the Recovery Act and five years to connect rural areas to high-speed networks.”

Clark participated in Let’s T.A.L.K. (Telecommunications, Agriculture, Leadership, Kansas) Innovation discussion along with a variety of Kansas leaders including Dr. Blake Flanders, president and chief executive officer of Kansas Board of Regents, Brian Thomason, TEDx speaker and chief executive officer of the Blue Valley Network of Companies, as well as a panel of agricultural and economic development experts.

Since 2009, USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has invested more than $130 million to assist with broadband expansion throughout rural Kansas. As a result, Kansas is a national leader in bringing broadband access to its communities, businesses and residents.  For example, six of the 51 rural smart communities as recognized by NTCA The Rural Broadband Association are located in Kansas.

“There is a direct and substantial connection between agricultural, rural profitability, community vitality and the ability to access high-speed internet connections,” Clark added. “Because of the strong commitment from our independent rural telephone companies rural communities in Kanas have the highest share of fiber connections in the state.”

Blue Valley Tele-Communications has worked with USDA since 1959 to help improve services to customers it serves through 12 telephone exchanges in northeast Kansas.  The company was one of the first rural telephone companies to deploy fiber-to-the-home to all customers, regardless of location.

“Rural telecommunications companies like Blue Valley, pride themselves on customer service. For us, it is about enhancing the quality of life in rural Kansas,” said Brian Thomason, chief executive officer of the Blue Valley Network of Companies. “It is through the strong work ethic rural Kansans are known for that allows us to overcome challenges through innovation. Collaboration through events such as Let’s TALK Innovation is a key component of what drives companies such as ours – proving innovation is not confined to the metro city beltways.”  

Two hundred fifty-four Recovery Act broadband projects financed by USDA’s Rural Utilities Service totaling $2.9 billion are providing broadband service in 44 states and American Samoa.

Contact USDA Rural Development

For more information about finance programs available through USDA Rural Development, please call (785) 271-2700 or visit the agency’s website at www.rd.usda.gov/ks.

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.