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The first week in October, along with a small group of New Yorkers from across the state, I visited Washington and encouraged our state’s congressional delegation to support public and private initiatives that will bring high-speed broadband to rural communities. The trip was part of a larger effort that included teachers, health care professionals, ranchers, farmers and small business owners from across the county to bring attention to the need for expanded access to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.
Today, while most people in metropolitan areas have access to the Internet, many still lack this critical tool, including here in New York. Living in rural New York, I know firsthand that many don’t have the luxury of having reliable, affordable Internet access. In today’s economy, that’s just not good enough.
Access to the Internet is important for business, education, and health care. For my family, it’s necessary to provide my children with top educational tools, and ensure that we remain connected in today’s society.
The reality is that rural America simply can’t afford to not have access to the Internet and mobile broadband. If we are going to have the economic development and jobs that we need in rural New York, our lawmakers in Washington need to make sure that rural broadband remains a top legislative priority. That is the message that I took the offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and to Congressmen Tom Reed, Edolphus Towns and Eliot Engel last week, and I urge others to do the same.
Rick Towner
Cohocton
The first week in October, along with a small group of New Yorkers from across the state, I visited Washington and encouraged our state’s congressional delegation to support public and private initiatives that will bring high-speed broadband to rural communities. The trip was part of a larger effort that included teachers, health care professionals, ranchers, farmers and small business owners from across the county to bring attention to the need for expanded access to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet service.
Today, while most people in metropolitan areas have access to the Internet, many still lack this critical tool, including here in New York. Living in rural New York, I know firsthand that many don’t have the luxury of having reliable, affordable Internet access. In today’s economy, that’s just not good enough.
Access to the Internet is important for business, education, and health care. For my family, it’s necessary to provide my children with top educational tools, and ensure that we remain connected in today’s society.
The reality is that rural America simply can’t afford to not have access to the Internet and mobile broadband. If we are going to have the economic development and jobs that we need in rural New York, our lawmakers in Washington need to make sure that rural broadband remains a top legislative priority. That is the message that I took the offices of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and to Congressmen Tom Reed, Edolphus Towns and Eliot Engel last week, and I urge others to do the same.
Rick Towner
Cohocton
