SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Bringing Broadband to rural Missouri is the goal of a statewide initiative. Friday was was the last of several meetings around the state since 2010.
Gov. Jay Nixon created the MoBroadbandNow initiative to develop a public-private partnership of multiple cooperative partners to build broadband access to all areas of the state. The goal is to increase broadband accessibility from its current level of 79 percent to 95 percent by the end of 2014.
"We need to increase our capacity and then we need to get it out to underserved areas and rural areas for telemedicine so they can get doctor visits at home, emergency services -- there are all kinds of applications," said community planner Dave Faucett.
Missouri has successfully competed to bring broadband grants and loans to the state for the project, bringing in more than $260 million for 19 projects so far.
If you are wondering what your area looks like, there is an interactive map online where you can check it out.
