GA Legislature Working to Give Rural Georgians Latest Broadband Service

The Georgia Legislature is continuing its work to make sure rural Georgians have access to the latest broadband service, but according to State lawmakers, it’s an uphill battle. 

At Tuesday’s Post Legislative Coffee at the Mitchell Allen Meeting Room in Toccoa, State House Representative Dan Gasaway said one major issue is convincing the communications companies to expand broadband service to rural areas like Northeast Georgia. 

But he said that rural areas like ours must be able to compete technologically.

Gasaway said even though great strides are being made to advance broadband technology and service, convincing big providers to expand in rural areas is the challenge for lawmakers.

State Senator John Wilkinson served last year on the Senate Broadband Committee.

He said another problem is that many of the larger providers don’t think rural areas are as lucrative as more metro areas.

Wilkinson said the State Senate is working on a bill that would circumvent traditional wireless providers by getting broadband into our rural area via EMC’s.
Wilkinson said they hope to have that bill ready to introduce in the 2018 General Assembly next January.