Delgado Urges Action on Rural Broadband on House Floor

Thank you, Mister Speaker. I rise today to address an urgent crisis in our communities access to rural broadband Over the district work period, I held a field hearing on rural broadband with FCC Commissioner Jeffrey Starks, where New York 19 residents share their stories about the need to improve rural broadband Internet, an upstate New York, the Commissioner heard from educators, health care providers and small business owners all impacted by this issue. The hearing I've introduced the Broadband Speed Act in the Community Broadband Mapping Act. This legislative package will address flaws, broadband mapping practices that result in the FCC over counting rural communities and require that projects funded with FCC money, our future proof or built to withstand changes in technology. This legislation would also allow local governments, Co ops, community groups and small providers to access funding that would allow them to collect information on local broadband service in order to challenge a finding that they are in fact sir. I urge the House to take up this legislation and close the digital divide your back the balance of my.