Plaskett Introduces Bill Aimed at Helping Rural Port Communities Get Federal Funding for Broadband Internet

Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett has announced bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing internet service in rural coastal communities nationwide. Ms. Plaskett, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, sponsored the legislation — Small Ports Act (H.R.4329) — along with Congressman Jerry L. Carl (R-AL).   According to the release, in rural coastal areas people congregate near inland and small ports. These harbors act as hubs for commerce and tourism. This bill recognizes the importance of small ports to their rural economies. It will help small ports nationwide get federal grants and loans and improve their broadband coverage, thereby enabling working-waterfronts to order inventory and coordinate deliveries, access real-time weather updates and grow economically, stated the release. “Broadband loan and grant applications submitted to the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service are assigned different levels of priority before they are awarded. This bill recognizes ...