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Newhouse Backs Legislation to Boost Rural Broadband

July 14, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after cosponsoring H.R. 3369, the Broadband for Rural America Act introduced by Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), which provides more than $7 billion in authorizations for USDA broadband connectivity programs.

"Without access to high-speed internet, broadband, or sometimes even a cellphone signal, our rural communities face challenges conducting the business of life," said Rep. Newhouse. "To truly participate in a 21st-century economy, we must expand our broadband infrastructure. By continuing to invest in broadband, we can empower families, better serve rural America, and fuel global economies."

Click here to read the full text of H.R. 3369.

Background:

Specifically, this bill does the following:

  • Authorizes $3.7 billion per year for critical rural broadband programs, including the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program, the Middle Mile Broadband Program, and the Innovative Broadband Advancement Program.
  • Eliminates duplicative programs by codifying the popular ReConnect program.
  • Builds on the successes of ReConnect by:
    • Establishing 25/3 Mbps connections as the threshold for minimum broadband service, and;
    • Imposing rigorous new buildout requirements to ensure that broadband networks financed through USDA meet the long-term needs of rural residents.
  • Targets limited resources so assistance is focused on the most rural and least-connected residents, which are often the most expensive to connect.
  • Promotes borrower accountability and protects taxpayers with new tools to ensure promised services are delivered to rural communities.
  • Expands investment in "middle mile networks," an essential, but often overlooked, component of Internet connectivity for many rural communities that connects local networks in one region to the Internet backbone.

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Issues:Energy