Connected Nation Adds "Voice of American Agriculture" to Chorus for Expanding
The American Farm Bureau Federation partners with Connected Nation to Accelerate Digital Inclusion for Rural Americans
Washington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB ) May 5, 2009 -- The "voice of American agriculture" has joined with Connected Nation to create a new partnership focused on ensuring that rural America maximizes the return on the nation's broadband stimulus investment. Adding to an exhaustive list of partners and advisors, internationally renowned in their respective fields, Connected Nation has partnered with the American Farm Bureau Federation, adding Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, to the Connected Nation Board of Directors.
With American Farm Bureau's 6,243,286 farm families and Connected Nation's record of accelerating broadband availability and computer use across the country, the partnership is perfectly positioned to improve America's rural broadband landscape as envisioned in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
"Expansion of high-speed Internet service is an important tool for bringing enhanced economic opportunities and quality of life to rural areas," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "The American Farm Bureau believes that by collaborating with Connected Nation, a group that has a track record of success, state and county Farm Bureaus will find it easier to get involved and ensure that broadband helps farmers and ranchers and the communities they live in."
American Farm Bureau Federation represents rural families who are often not able to access the important communications technology that can provide important economic and social advantages. Connected Nation's single focus is to ensure that every American has access to broadband-connected computers. These connections expand education opportunities, make businesses more efficient, improve healthcare and provide a means for connecting to the rest of the world.
"The American Farm Bureau has been working from the grassroots since 1919 to meet national challenges and ensure that rural families can continue to prosper," said Brian Mefford, Chairman and CEO of Connected Nation. "Bob Stallman's decision to join the board of Connected Nation has created immediate opportunities for each state's Farm Bureau organization and, in fact, every Farm Bureau member across the country to become part of the nation's broadband solution," Mefford said.
Connected Nation mobilizes farmers and other community leaders to create a local environment that is fertile for the growth and expansion of technology. Leaders from other key sectors of the local economy including education, healthcare and tourism come together to help map the current broadband landscape and to ensure that technology literacy and use are growing as broadband and computer services expand.
As a result of the national partnership with American Farm Bureau several state Farm Bureau organizations have joined Connected Nation's National Advisory Council, including Kansas Farm Bureau, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Ohio Farm Bureau and Tennessee Farm Bureau. The Advisory Council includes leaders representing U.S. consumers, industry, labor, academia and government. Advisors support Connected Nation's efforts to improve digital inclusion for all people - especially in terms of access to and use of broadband and related technology.
Connected Nation Advisory Council members include: Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE), American Academy of Nursing, American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance (AHGA), American Farm Bureau Federation, AT&T, Cisco Systems, Comcast Corporation, Communications Workers of America (CWA), CTIA - The Wireless Association, Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Intel Corporation, Internet Innovation Alliance, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Microsoft Corporation, Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC), National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA), National Consumers League, The National Grange, NIC, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, The Children's Partnership, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, USTelecom, Verizon Communications, Voyant International, and World Institute on Disability.
About Connected Nation: Connected Nation is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that expands access to and use of broadband Internet and the related technologies that are enabled when individuals and communities have the opportunity and desire to connect. Connected Nation effectively raises the awareness of the value of broadband and related technologies by developing coalitions of influencers and enablers for technology deployment and adoption. Connected Nation works with community stakeholders, states and technology providers to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered around a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information about Connected Nation, Inc., visit www.connectednation.org.
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