MACo submitted written testimony in support of House Bill 243, “Task Force on Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless, and Cellular Service – Study and Extension”,to the Senate Finance Committee on March 22, 2018.

This task force has studying access to service in specified unserved and underserved areas of the state, and this extension would allow it to ascertain issues in all rural areas of the state and allow recommendations to come to fruition. This access is critical to economic development in counties, and extending the time of the task force is allowing it to effectively put forward recommendations that consider all facets of rural broadband access.

From MACo Testimony:

Addressing gaps in access and availability to these services transcends the specified regions of the bill and impacts residents living in rural areas of urban counties as well. As amended, the bill ensures that the rural areas of all counties are afforded the same review and benefits of the extended study.”

For more on this and other legislation, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.