(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — As a part of its efforts to bring broadband Internet to rural areas, web hosting and broadband provider Internet America (www.internetamerica.com) has appointed former Texas Governor Mark White as counsel on rural broadband development, where he will develop public-private partnerships to extend the information superhighway to underserved areas of the US.
According to Internet America’s Tuesday announcement, White will help the company make the most of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s stimulus funds, which include the allocation of $7.2 billion to provide broadband access to rural and underserved areas.
Having served as Governor of Texas from 1983-1987, White has built a reputation for education reform, having helped raise Texas SAT scores by twelve points from their position as one of the lowest performing in the country. White’s reputation will likely bring attention to the issue of rural broadband.
“I’m very pleased to have someone of Governor White’s caliber and experience joining Internet America at this exciting time as we expand our efforts of providing access to high speed wireless broadband in rural and underserved areas of the country,” Internet America chairman and chief executive officer Billy Ladin said in a statement. “Governor White brings a strong background in innovative technologies to our company and we believe that his experience and leadership will be a significant addition to our team as we manage the strategic expansion of the business in these challenging times.
White draws a parallel between the the US government’s spending on broadband during the current economic recession and its spending on electricity in the Great Depression. “In the 1930′s President Roosevelt created the Rural Electric Administration to make certain that electric service was brought to rural America based on the belief that affordable electricity would improve the standard of living and the economic competitiveness of these areas, ” White said in a statement. “Today, as President Obama initiates his stimulus plan for the expansion of rural broadband connectivity to underserved parts of America, it is predictable that enormous economic and social advances will occur as he works to bring all Americans into the 21st century economy.”
As part of its $7.2 billion in funding, the Recovery Act, signed into law on February 17, 2009, established $4.7 billion in funding for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (www.ntia.doc.gov) in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (www.fcc.gov) to provide or improve access to broadband in unserved areas and public safety agencies, as well as provide education, training and support. It also includes an additional $2.5 billion of funding for the Broadband Initiatives Program administered by the Rural Utilities Service unit of the US Department of Agriculture (www.usda.gov), which supports the expansion of broadband service to rural areas through financing and grants.
Noting the importance of communications to America beyond just urban centers, FCC commissioner Michael Copps said in April, “Broadband can be the great enabler that restores America’s economic well-being and opens doors of opportunity for all Americans to pass through, no matter who they are, where they live, or the particular circumstances of their individual lives.”
