China Opens Market & Building on Broadband

China Opens Market & Building on Broadband. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Computer access in rural areas has been a high priority of the Obama administration and USDA's Rural Utilities Service is currently reviewing applications for the first round of Recovery Act funding for rural broadband infrastructure projects. RUS Administrator Johnathan Adelstien.

ADELSTIEN: We have $2.5 billion provided to us which could be up to $7 billion when you count loans as well as the grants. Right now we’re in the middle of reviewing applications for the broadband program. We’ve got an overwhelming demand for loans and grants in rural areas.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk have announced China's intent to re-open the Chinese market - consistent with science-based international standards - to U.S. pork and live swine. The announcement came at the end of meetings at the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. Vilsack called China's plan to remove its H1N1-related ban on pork an important step forward in cooperation between the two countries on ag issues.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange Report.

(GRANGE)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.