Amir Nasr
Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) formed the Senate Broadband Caucus on Tuesday to “focus on strengthening broadband infrastructure and deployment across the country,” according to a release from the senators’ offices.
The Senate Broadband Caucus will work to engage senators from both parties to bring broadband internet access to individuals across the United States. The caucus will focus on connecting low-income and rural Americans.
“Unfortunately, the digital divide between rural and urban America is growing as essential broadband infrastructure falls behind in certain parts of the country,” Capito said in a Tuesday statement. “By bringing together a bipartisan group of senators from a diverse group of states, each with its own broadband challenges, this caucus is well positioned to make a much needed impact.”
“Broadband is no longer a luxury in today’s highly-connected world,” said King in a statement. “It’s an essential tool that connects people and communities to economic and educational opportunities in unprecedented ways – and that’s why it’s critical that Congress invests in its expansion as a central part of a thriving 21st century economy.”
“In an increasingly connected global economy, reliable high-speed broadband is essential to ensuring the competitiveness of rural communities and local businesses,” Klobuchar said. “The livelihoods of families, the success of students, and the bottom line of businesses should not be determined by where they are located and their ability to access high-speed internet.”