Gilmer Dairy Farm News
Riley Told Farmers Need Rural Broadband
The following article by Jeff
Helms can be found in its entirety at
http://www.alfafarmers.org/headlines/headline.phtml?id=5443
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Lamar County young farmer Will Gilmer joined Gov. Bob Riley in demonstrating the need and value of broadband Internet access during a Jan. 5 news conference in which Riley announced a $1.7 million, two-year project to study the state’s broadband coverage and develop plans for increasing affordable high-speed Internet access in rural areas.
Gilmer, who spoke via videoconference, elicited laughs and empathy from reporters and members of the governor’s Alabama Broadband Commission as he told about the slow, dial-up connection available in his area.
“When farmers need up-to-the-minute weather and commodity information, that usually involves going to a Web site, going to make a cup of coffee, drinking the coffee and then coming back to see the page only half loaded,” said Gilmer, who noted that DSL (high-speed) Internet service ends less than a mile from his farm.
On serious note, Gilmer emphasized that farmers need reliable, broadband access not only to get information, but also to share their stories with the world.
“Many people these days simply don’t understand where their food comes from. As farmers, many of us want to educate the public about how production and environmental stewardship go hand in hand and how we care for our animals,” Gilmer said.
