The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is backing efforts at the state capitol to expand broadband internet access in Pennsylvania.
The bureau says high speed internet is unavailable for many Pennsylvanians in rural communities. They’re asking lawmakers to pass a series of bills that would establish a legislative commission to recommend strategies for expanding the access to residents in rural areas.
Bethany Coursen is a dairy farmer from Centre County. She was at the capitol today, and said the lack of internet is causing her business to fall behind.
“The technology that is being created and on the market for us is fantastic. Unfortunately, we are being hampered by our ability to use that, because we don’t have the internet we need,” said Coursen.
About 800,000 Pennsylvanians currently do not have access to high speed internet.