MO committee broadband hearing July 20th

A newly-formed Missouri House committee on broadband development will hear testimony next month from Missouri’s largest general farm organization and from rural electric cooperatives. 

The Missouri House Special Committee on Broadband Development has scheduled a July 20th hearing in Jefferson City, to hear testimony from Missouri Farm Bureau and from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. 

The committee held its first hearing last week, and learned that Missouri now ranks 32nd nationwide for broadband access. 

Committee Chairman Representative Louis Riggs of Hannibal says there are still 392-thousand Missourians who lack high-speed internet, either because it’s not available or they can’t afford it. 

That number is down from 587-thousand in 2018.  Rural broadband is a top priority for Missouri Farm Bureau.