HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Extending broadband services to underserved rural areas, including parts of Hunterdon County, was a key issue reviewed at National Association of Counties (NACO) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., according to Hunterdon County Commissioner Susan J. Soloway.
Soloway, who joined with county officials from around the nation at the NACO Conference, February 11– 14, as Hunterdon County’s representative, said that she attended several important policy sessions and advocated on policy matters impacting small and medium sized counties.
Reflecting on some of the above briefing sessions, Soloway said, “I participated at the Broadband Summit and also attended two steering committee meetings, the Transportation Policy Steering Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Steering Committee. During the Transportation Steering committee meeting, among other topics, we discussed the impacts of heavy trucks on local bridges.”
Soloway said the broadband session focused upon how to connect underserved parts of a county with reliable service and higher internet access speeds. The Hunterdon County Commissioner Board recently invested a portion of its funds received from American Rescue Plan to upgrade its aging microwave system to a high-speed fiber optic loop that will enhance speeds for County operations and serve as foundation for future expansion by neighboring municipalities and local internet providers.
“Being able to interact with County leaders from across the country on issues that affect thousands of people in our respective regions everyday was a great experience. Seeing what has worked and what has not worked is very important to creating effective policy within Hunterdon County,” Soloway said.
While the Legislative Conference filled with committee meetings, policy discussions, and informational summits, a day was also set aside for meetings with staff and members of Congress on Capitol Hill, to engage with members of the 118th Congress on key issues of public policy facing county governments.
“I met with Congressman Tom Kean’s staff and discussed several key priorities specifically for Hunterdon County, including federal funds for disaster relief, veterans’ services, and broadband infrastructure,” Soloway said.
