Congress Approves Farm Bill, Broadband Funds Included

Congress today passed a new Farm Bill -- against the threat of a presidential veto -- that would provide loans for rural broadband deployment.

The American Cable Association (ACA) welcomed the news.

“This bill has traveled a long road, but our hope is that it will have been worth the wait for the unserved communities throughout the country that will benefit from the increased funds and refocused attention of the broadband deployment effort,” said Matthew Polka, president and CEO of the ACA.

The National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, whose members also include small rural providers, didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

The Farm Bill would, in part, reform the Rural Utilities Service’s Rural Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. That would help providers, co-ops and companies more easily build out in the rural United States.

The bill passed 81-15 with a number of Republicans vowing to override President Bush’s threatened veto. Bush has said the bill is fiscally irresponsible, but most of his party is siding against him.

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