By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4
In 2025, it’s unacceptable that Pulaski County still has homes, farms, and businesses struggling with slow, unreliable, or completely absent internet service. In today’s economy, broadband is not a luxury—it’s basic infrastructure, as critical as electricity or clean water. Yet for many in our county, the “digital divide” is still very real, limiting educational opportunities, job growth, telehealth access, and even farm operations that rely on precision agriculture technology.
To fix this, we need to focus on two connected solutions: building a middle-mile backbone and creating a locally controlled broadband co-op. Middle-mile infrastructure refers to the high-capacity fiber lines that connect regional internet hubs to local distribution networks. Without this backbone, last-mile providers can’t deliver affordable, high-speed service to homes and businesses. Unfortunately, private internet companies often avoid building middle-mile in rural areas because the return on investment is too slow. That’s where federal and state grants come in.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program is designed to fill this gap. This program, along with the USDA’s ReConnect Program, can fund the construction of this essential backbone. Missouri has already won funding under NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program that includes Pulaski County—but that’s only the start. The key is to strategically extend these lines to reach underserved areas, not just the easiest or cheapest routes.
Once the backbone is in place, a member-owned broadband co-op can take over last-mile deployment. This is a proven model: electric co-ops brought power to rural America in the 1930s when private utilities refused to invest, and today, many of those same co-ops are doing it again with broadband. A local broadband co-op ensures decisions are made by and for Pulaski County residents, not out-of-state shareholders. It also means profits are reinvested into the community rather than siphoned away.
Middle-mile plus a local co-op is a sustainable, long-term solution—but we also need immediate steps. That means challenging inaccurate FCC broadband maps that leave our communities ineligible for funding. It means streamlining pole attachment agreements so co-ops and small ISPs can connect new lines faster. It means working with schools, libraries, and local governments to create “community anchor networks” that serve as both service hubs and emergency internet points during disasters.
As your congressman, I’ll work to:
- Secure middle-mile funding for Pulaski County through NTIA and USDA programs.
- Partner with local leaders to launch a member-owned broadband co-op.
- File formal challenges to flawed FCC broadband maps that undercount underserved households.
- Advocate for fair pole-attachment rules that cut deployment costs for co-ops and small providers.
- Support workforce training so local residents can take the good-paying jobs created by broadband expansion.
Broadband is more than streaming movies—it’s the bridge to economic opportunity, quality healthcare, and modern education. In rural Missouri, it can mean whether a farm stays competitive, a business can expand, or a student can finish a degree. Pulaski County cannot wait for the big providers to decide it’s profitable enough. We must build it ourselves, with public investment and local control.
When I’m your congressman, I’ll make rural broadband a priority—not just in Pulaski County, but across Missouri’s 4th District. That means real infrastructure, local ownership, and a commitment to ensuring no home, farm, or business is left offline.
Concept timestamp: August 7, 2025 • 4:00 PM CT
Sources:
Missouri Broadband Map — MO Office of Broadband Development
NTIA Enabling Middle Mile Program — Overview
USDA ReConnect — Loans & Grants for Rural Broadband
NTIA BIP Award — Missouri DED (includes Pulaski County)
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association — Broadband Initiatives