Indiana Farm Bureau’s top priority for the 2021 legislative session was to expand rural broadband to unserved and underserved Hoosiers.
“With many families working and learning from home during the height of the pandemic, the issues with rural connectivity demonstrated that there are still many areas of the state that don’t have access to adequate and reliable broadband,” said Andy Tauer, INFB executive director of public policy. “This session, rural broadband received much-needed support in terms of funding and legislation.”
INFB’s broadband priority was addressed in several pieces of legislation, including a $250 million appropriation for the Next Level Connection Broadband Grants Program, which provides funds for the deployment of broadband infrastructure around the state. In addition:
“With increased funding levels and flexibilities, as well as the passage of new laws to increase speeds, we are making great strides toward getting broadband to the last acre,” added Tauer. “INFB will continue to advocate at the Statehouse until reliable broadband is available to all Hoosiers.”
The budget and the four broadband bills were signed into law and will go into effect on July 1.