LEMOYNE, Pa. — The PA State Grange is presenting a program on Rural Broadband Access at the PA Farm Show on Thursday in the Monongahela Room, second floor, Farm Show Complex Maclay Street entrance from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Its focus is to discuss what steps can be taken to ensure that rural Pennsylvania has the same access to Internet and cell phone service as do urban and suburban citizens.
“This addresses a critical need for rural Pennsylvania,” said PA State Grange President Wayne Campbell. “Telemedicine may be a great way to reach rural areas but is almost useless if you don’t have the technology to go with it. Computers in the classroom is a great idea, but if kids have no Internet access at home, that resource is wasted. Rural commerce is stymied without access to those technology tools everyone else has. That is why Broadband Internet access is a top Grange legislative priority”
Presenters include:
- Mark Critz, Governor’s Rural Development Council Executive Director
- Bev Gruber representing the PA Campgrounds Association whose members have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because of no Internet or WI-FI access
- Betsy Huber, President of the National Grange and member of the Federal Communications Commission Advisory Committee for Broadband
- Regina Matz, Esq. representing Public Utility Commission Commissioner David Sweet
- PA State Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill from York County who has introduced a package of Broadband bills
- Steve Samara, President of the PA Telephone Association whose members service rural Pennsylvania
The event will be moderated by PA Grange Director of Legislative Affairs Vince Phillips. The general public is encouraged to attend. The event is not just for members of the PA State Grange.
— PA State Grange
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