House Committee on Small Business
Subcommittee on Rural & Urban Entrepreneurship
“Maximizing the Value of Broadband Services to Rural Communities”
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
10:00 a.m. Room 2360 Rayburn HOB

Opening Statement by Subcommittee Chairman Heath Shuler

Panel I:

The Honorable Jonathan Adelstein--Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

Panel II:

Mr. Brandon Stephens--Chairman of the Board, Balsam West FiberNET LLC, Sylva, NC

Mr. T. Russell Shields--Chair, Ygomi LLC, Oak Brook, IL

Mr. Russ Kremer--President, Missouri Farmers Union, Jefferson City, Missouri

Mr. Brent J. Christensen--Vice President/General Manager, Christensen Communications Company, Madelia, MN

Mr. Brian Mefford--President and CEO, Connect Kentucky, Bowling Green, KY

Mr. William R. Deere--Vice President, United States Telecom