Rural areas may lose broadband service
Posted: 05.05.2011 at 7:11 PM
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BLOOMFIELD, IOWA -- Davis County and other rural areas are fighting to keep their broadband service.

Congress and the Federal Communications Commission are threatening to change the mechanisms of service for rural areas in order to help urban communities.

According to the F.C.C, the penetration rates for urban areas are below what they expect, and would like to see more high speed connections away from rural areas as a result.

Citizens Mutual Telephone General Manager Joe Snyder says that could have devastating results for the area.

"It could very easily reduce population growth in rural areas. And obviously make it to where the production companies that use the internet to do their work would not want to locate in an area that had sub-standard broadband service."

The decision would also affect other Iowa and Missouri areas; including Kirksville and Ottumwa. Snyder is going to travel to Washington D.C. in two weeks to defend small town communities in hopes of negotiating with the F.C.C.