News you can use

Letter to the Editor - Montana needs access to high-speed internet

Editor,

According to the Federal Communications Commission’s 2016 Broadband Progress Report, 39 percent of rural Americans, roughly 23 million people, do not have access to high-speed internet. Whether it’s a student taking a class via distance learning, a small clinic practicing telemedicine, or a small business using e-commerce platforms, expanding high-speed broadband access will have incredible benefits for rural Montana.

Today in Montana, approximately 50,000 residents are unable to access reliable internet. Even more are experiencing poor cellphone service in their communities. Today, independent rural Montana telecommunication providers cover approximately 70 percent of Montana’s 147,040-square-mile landmass with high-speed broadband internet access, according to the Montana Telecommunication Association’s 2016 Broadband Report. This should be 100 percent coverage. Montana communities need all the viable tools available to accelerate the deployment and adoption of affordable, reliable, modern high-speed broadband connectivity in rural Montana.

Broadband refers to high-speed internet connectivity that uses high-speed transmission technologies including digital subscriber lines (DSL), cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite and broadband-over-powerlines (BPL).

I recently spoke with a Teton County commissioner who mentioned that in the county it is not uncommon for one town to have internet service while a community just a few miles down the road has no service.

Through increasing the availability and reliability of broadband internet services in rural communities we will be taking the first step to uniting our communities.

The empowerment of technological growth will allow small town Montana to reach new heights. Access to broadband will strengthen Montana schools, businesses, hospitals and families.  While we are making progress, there are still too many places in our state where that access is out of reach. Please join me on a quest to secure responsible and unbiased support for rural communities throughout Montana.

Tyrel Suzor-Hoy, Helena

Democratic Public Service Commissioner candidate for

District 5

 

Reader Comments(0)