On Wednesday, a coalition of stakeholders committed to the expansion of broadband services in rural America launched the first in a series of workshops to focus attention on the wide-ranging challenges to achieving connectivity and the opportunities improved e-connectivity could bring to the people and economies of the nation's rural regions.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai joined executives from the five partner organizations -- Farm Foundation, NTCA-The Rural Broadband Assn. (NTCA), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn. (NRECA), CoBank and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) -- in kicking off the listening sessions by highlighting the importance of e-connectivity to all sectors of rural America.

The next listening session will be in June 2018 in Minnesota, with additional sessions to be completed over the next six months.

"Broadband is vital to the rural economy in what is now a highly interconnected global marketplace," said Tom Halverson, president and chief executive officer of CoBank. "We need leaders on both sides of the aisle in Washington (D.C.) to work together to facilitate broadband investment and ensure that rural America remains competitive and strong."

Achieving e-connectivity across rural America is no simple task. "Actions needed to improve e-connectivity vary widely by community and region," Farm Foundation president and CEO Constance Cullman noted. "These listening sessions will serve to highlight common issues, success stories to build strong broadband systems and challenges that are yet to be met."

Executives from regional telecommunications companies participated in the kickoff to provide perspectives on the broadband service issues. This panel included Levoy Knowles of the Tennessee Telecommunications Assn., Mel Coleman of the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative and Ken Johnson, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service.

"We are excited for the prospects of enhanced cooperation and coordination between USDA, the FCC and private operators like those in NTCA's membership -- all of whom recognize the value of and critical need for sustainable broadband in rural America. In that spirit, it is an honor to have both USDA Secretary Perdue and FCC chairman Pai offer remarks at today's kickoff event," NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield said. "NTCA's nearly 850 members connect many of America's rural communities to the world with robust broadband, and we are pleased to participate in this collaborative effort to promote better access to rural broadband."

Rural electric cooperatives are well aware of the need for e-connectivity in their communities, and more than 100 electric cooperatives already are providing broadband service to their members.

"The widening digital divide is a national crisis deserving of a national response," NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said. "For decades, electric cooperatives have enhanced the quality of life throughout rural America. Now, many of those same electric co-ops are helping reinvigorate rural economies by bringing broadband to rural homes, businesses and farms. High costs to serve areas with low population density remain the biggest obstacle to expanded rural broadband access. An expanded combination of federal grant and loan funding through USDA is a critical step to connecting rural America."

Stakeholders emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to enhance broadband services in rural America. "Leveraging additional investment in rural broadband infrastructure will require a team effort," said Sheldon Petersen, CEO of CFC. "Local partnerships can be a wonderful way to leverage resources, expertise and efficiencies to ensure that rural communities can fully participate in today's 21st-century economy."