Vice President Biden announces broadband expansion program

As part of a "rural America tour" Vice President Joe Biden alongside Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a plan to create a $4.7 billion loan and grant program to build the necessary infrastructure to expand broadband access to underserved areas.

The Vice President was speaking to a group at a local high school outside of Erie, PA and said, "The bottom line is, you can't function -- a nation can't compete in the 21st century -- without an immediate, high-quality access for everything from streaming video to information overline."

The financial programs Vice President Biden announced are part of the $7.2 billion federal stimulus to improve broadband Internet access and adoption.

"We believe we are in the process of transforming rural America," Biden said. "So, it's integrated with the country, without losing its character... Getting broadband to every American is a priority for this administration."

Earlier this month, Biden spoke at the CWA National Convention and endorsed the Speed Matters campaign's commitment to providing high speed Internet for all Americans:

"You had it exactly right - speed matters. It matters to our children, and their education. It matters to health care, it matters to energy, it matters to education, it matters to the economy, it matters to the future."

Biden announces program to expand broadband Internet access for rural areas at Pa. stop

Biden: CWA "had it exactly right - speed matters" (Speed Matters)