RUS BROADBAND LOAN PROGRAM BROKEN, CHAMBLISS SAYS

摘要

Fixing problems in management of the Dept. of Agriculture抯 Rural Utilities Service (RUS) broadband loan program will be a 揷ritical?part of the Senate抯 reauthorization of the farm bill next year, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee Chmn. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said Wed. at a hearing on RUS. The broadband program has been subject of recent criticism in reports from Govt. Accountability Office and the Dept. of Agriculture抯 Office of Inspector Gen. Critics have claimed RUS loans are used to subsidize broadband deployment in areas already served by broadband and that RUS rules are unclear. New RUS Administrator Jim Andrew said the agency is 搘orking to better define what rural is.?Many rural areas have quickly become rich suburbs, he said. 揌aving the government in the lending business isn抰 good for taxpayers in the long term. It抯 better when we work with the private sector on that,?Chambliss said.