ILLINOIS (RFD) — Just like the telephone and electricity, broadband or fiber is being called an essential service. That assessment from Douglas Wilson. He’s the State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture.

Wilson says rural areas also need expanded broadband to deal with health care challenges in sparsely populated areas.

The USDA just released $97-million in funding last month to improve rural broadband in 11 states. In addition, the USDA is announcing a new webpage about the importance of rural e-connectivity in rural America. It’s available at “usda.gov/broadband”.