Greetings from the Backwaters of Talbot County. Please to let all know that the fiber optics of Easton Velocity have been installed. We now have uninterrupted WiFi and Streaming.
Many thanks to our Congressman Andy Harris and the Department of Agriculture.
E.W. Clucas
Talbot County
Talbot County
Dick Deerin says
You should also thank President Joe Biden for pushing through the bipartisan infrastructure legislation that included funding for expansion of internet into rural areas.
Barbara Perry says
Perhaps you are too quick to thank Andy Harris since he voted against the funding bill https://www.baltimoresun.com/2022/03/16/does-andy-harris-want-rural-americans-to-lag-behind-the-rest-reader-commentary/
You did rightfully thank the US Department of Agriculture which received the funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/10/27/biden-harris-administration-provides-759-million-bring-high-speed.
Alan Boisvert says
Harris would have defunded this project if he could have. Fact is he could not. Thank your president, Presudent Joe Biden for your connection.
Michael Davis says
First of all, Happy New Year to Everyone.
And, thank you Dick and Barbara for pointing out the false claim in E. W. Clucas’s letter. I certainly understand why he or she is happy with WiFi. It is a necessity of modern life.
However, Congressman Andy Harris voted against it. He votes against federal budgets and will probably soon vote on a bill that will result in shutting down the federal government, including the agency that funded the WiFi E. W. Clucas enjoys.
Dick and Barbara are some of the good people on the Eastern Shore who keep track of the facts. Not the fiction that Andy Harris helps anyone on the Eastern Shore.
Barbara Perry says
Thank you Michael for your kind words. I do try to stay on top of the truth but it can be very difficult at times.
Jerry McConnell says
If you knew what you were talking about —and you obviously don’t—you’d know that Pistol-Packin’ Andy Harris did not want you to have WiFi. He could have voted for funding, but he felt that most of his rural “backwater” constituents don’t need it, because they either don’t have or know how to use cell phones or wireless technology. Nevertheless, the Democratic Administration and Congress funded it for you.
Now you can follow ex-president Trump’s felony and conspiracy trials closely, and you’ll know how long he’s going to spend in prison.
Doug Firth says
Gents,
Andy Harris???
The person to thank for WiFi in our rural area is Hugh Grunden and his team from Easton Utility and now Easton Velocity. He is the one who did the research to find the funding from USDA.
He is the unsung hero for Talbot County as far as I’m concerned.
Doug Firth
Susie Hayward says
My thoughts exactly! The thanks go to Hugh and the hard work and forward thinking of Easton Utilities and Easton Velocity.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk says
I thought this was a joke then realized it’s January 1 not April 1. A little bit of fact checking could have saved you from this blunder. We have broad band DESPITE Andy Harris. And, yes, a big shout out to Hugh Grunden and Easton Utilities, to whom it has been a priority.
Mickey Terrone says
Dear E.W. Clucas: Thank you for publicly sharing your gratitude toward Congressman Harris’ for his efforts in assuring Talbot County residents now have uninterrupted WiFi and Streaming access. It appears, however, that Congressman Harris voted against the legislation. Do you have information to the contrary? Did Congressman Harris inform you that he voted for the legislation?
I doubt you would purposefully offer disinformation to misrepresent the facts of this matter, so I ask that you clarify the basis of your statement/belief. I appreciate that you took the opportunity publicly to recognize Harris’ efforts, so you must be convinced he supported the legislation.
Thank you.
Elaine Dickinson says
I live in rural Talbot County and this program has done nothing for us. Im paying through the nose for marginal service from a cable company that has a monopoly – hence the exhorbitant rates.
This isnt rocket science – when will Bay Hundred get some affordable alternatives??
Michael Pullen says
You are mistaken. Andy Harris voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act that has created high speed internet access to rural areas in Maryland. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/11/06/maryland-lawmakers-bay-advocates-react-to-late-night-passage-of-1-2-trillion-u-s-infrastructure-bill/
President Joe Biden proposed this investment in American infrastructure and shepherded it through Congress to deliver real benefits to rural Americans despite Andy Harris refusal to support it.
In true shamelessness, Andy Harris nevertheless claims credit. https://www.commonsenseeasternshore.org/rep-harris-deceptively-claims-credit-for-infrastructure-projects-he-voted-against
Facts matter. Truth matters. Honesty matters. Use them wisely. The common good depends on you.
E.W.Clucas says
Wow , sure struck a nerve . Sorry didn’t know Rep Harris Voted against it . Glad you all got it off your chest .
We country bumpkins just happy to have reliable net service , thanking ANYONE who helped in providing the service .
E.W.Clucas
Mickey Terrone says
E.W. Clucas, its good that local folk come to learn about their congresspersons. You have many backwater Talbot County folk who are far from bumpkins. Some of the ones who responded to your original post have seen Harris in action, or inaction as the case may be. We are quick to react to disinformation, which happens when citizens are generally awake or woke to misleading propaganda. I’m pleased that now you too are woke to Congressman Harris’ reliance on falsehoods to claim he’s acting in the best interests of the vast majority of his constituents. He isn’t acting in our best interests. He is a charlatan.
Jim Bachman says
Harris voted against this.
This is standard Stolen Valor by Andy Harris and should be condemned.
Tom Dennis says
Mr. Clucas, if you want to thank anyone for expanded funding for rural broadband on the Eastern Shore, tip your hat to Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin, and the Biden Administration. As pointed out by several others who commented on your piece, Andy Harris voted against the legislation. I’m sure Mr. Harris would tell you he is working hard to help rural communities in his District. The reality is clear and direct. Andy Harris does not deliver for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District and never has.
Let me be candid. Andy Harris has successfully “bamboozled” his constituents; asserting he is vigilant and provides great services. The bottom line is clear when you peel back the layers of his deception. Andy Harris has spent 13 years in a very safe district, doing essentially nothing. During that time he cultivated his extremist positions as if they were the highest priorities for his constituents, making them believe any proposal by the Administration was either ill-conceived or wasteful government spending.
It is way past time for constituents to express their feelings about Mr. Harris in advance of the general election. Talk to your friends, Republicans, and Independents, and ask a simple question–“Tell me what Andy Harris has done for our Congressional District.” I am certain they would be hard-pressed to tell you.
It’s time for an alternative to Andy Harris. Let’s find a solid, well-respected alternative.