Court ruling could affect high-speed Internet service in rural areas

A decorahnews.com reader e-mails Mr. Answer Person: I live less than 7 miles outside Decorah, yet cannot get QWest highspeed internet service and must rely on satellite or cellular service, which are both expensive and unpredictable. If QWest gets the broadband $350 million government grant, will it only benefit the city of Decorah, or will it actually help out those of us in Decorah's rural burbs?  Does the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors consider broadband infrastructure an important priority and what does it do to encourage expansion?

The latest development affecting high speed Internet service in rural areas might not be good news for rural Winneshiek County residents.

As we reported earlier, the Obama Administration has created a fund to help pay for the extension of broadband into rural areas of the country.  Of course, when Washington, D.C. says "rural areas" it sometimes thinks of Waterloo or Dubuque, not Glenwood Township.  But we have reported that several companies have expressed interest in bringing broadband service to Winneshiek County--or, at least, to Decorah.

But on Tuesday a court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission had no authority to sanction cable firm Comcast for slowing down some Internet traffic.  Advocacy groups said this ruling put the U.S. broadband plan in legal limbo.

The FCC has admitted that the "decision may affect a significant number of important plan recommendations," including efforts "aimed at accelerating broadband access and adoption in rural America."

Winneshiek County officials, as well as those from the City of Decorah, Decorah School District and Winneshiek Medical Center, have been working to bring better broadband service to the area.  They continue to work on this project, feeling that it is an important priority.

decorahnews.com will continue to report on the work of this ad-hoc committee and will bring you news of any new developments.