Rural residents want broadband

Posted at: 07/23/2009 10:39 AM | Updated at: 07/23/2009 10:44 AM
By: MELANIE DABOVICH, Associated Press Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - U.S. Department of Agriculture official Jessica Zufolo says expanding broadband access in rural areas can help build them build infrastructure for Internet and lead to better jobs and stronger economies.

More than 150 people are attending a workshop Thursday in Albuquerque aimed at helping rural and minority communities apply for grants under the federal stimulus program to expand broadband access and services.

Navajo Technical College staff members Tom Davis and Mark Trebian want to expand Internet on the Navajo Nation to end the digital divide between the reservation and urban areas.

The workshop is presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the USDA's Rural Utility Service.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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