I want to applaud Sen. Maria Cantwell and the Biden administration for their incredible work on the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was passed in the U.S. Senate. Specifically, the piece that is very overdue: $65 billion for broadband infrastructure.
Last year, virtually everything shifted online – work, health care, religious ceremonies, and even social engagements. But millions not connected to broadband struggled to keep jobs or find jobs to replace the ones they lost, educate their kids remotely or deal with routine medical issues as doctors’ offices moved online.
This bill will expand existing broadband infrastructure to communities without any access and allow investment in all available technologies to do it – fiber, 5G wireless, satellite companies like Ligado and cable. Looking ahead, these communities that have struggled with broadband in the past will finally have the access they deserve in 2021.
I am proud that our country and our senator seized this opportunity to rebuild from a crisis to seriously confront equitably and to meet the challenges of the coming decades. I’m not sure our communities could wait any longer.
