U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) held a hearing this week to examine solutions to expand broadband access for rural communities in Oregon and across the country.
Walden, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, detailed the widespread benefits of connecting people with broadband access regardless of where they live.
“Farmers and ranchers across my district have taken advantage of precision agriculture technology to reduce inputs,” he said. “And the transition to next generation 9-1-1 is critical for strengthening public safety. Broadband is the infrastructure of the 21st century. Broadband means jobs. Jobs come from deployment — building towers and cell sites, laying fiber, launching satellites, and upgrading facilities that constitute the physical infrastructure. The economic benefits don’t stop at construction. Maintaining this infrastructure requires high-skilled jobs in engineering, network management, cybersecurity, advertising, and customer service. And beyond all that, we know broadband is a force multiplier for job creation, providing efficiencies for every sector of the economy.”
Walden’s hearing, entitled “Realizing the Benefits of Rural Broadband: Challenges and Solutions,” also included testimony from Wallowa County nurse Jenni Word, who serves as Associate Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer of Wallowa Memorial Hospital in eastern Oregon. Walden invited Word to testify before the Energy and Commerce Committee to detail how broadband can help improve access to care for patients in rural communities through technology like telehealth.
“Wallowa Memorial Hospital provides oncology, rheumatology, cardiology for adults and children, orthopedic, psychology, neurology and palliative care services through telemedicine,” said Word. “This technology saves patients two-and-a-half hours of driving — and many gallons of gas – for what is usually a 15 to 30 minute visit with a specialist. Other services are available via telehealth at Wallowa.”
Just recently, Eastern Oregon Telecom CEO Joseph Franell hosted a meeting with Walden and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in Hermiston to discuss efforts to improve connectivity in rural communities.
