Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and 28 of her House colleagues joined together this week to urge the Obama Administration to redefine what is considered "broadband" Internet connections for an important federal program.  

In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the bipartisan group asked that the threshold for the Community Connect Grant Program be increased. Recently, other USDA programs changed their broadband definitions to speeds of 10 mbps (download) and 1 mbps (upload.)  The group asked that definitions under the Community Connect program also be increased—which is important because it will make more communities in which the available Internet service doesn't meet those minimum speeds eligible for help through the Rural Utilities service.
 
"Broadband access is a vital link to a range of necessary services and resources for America’s rural residents. Not only is it an economic development tool for businesses that may be isolated from potential customers and employees, but it broadens educational horizons for students and offers health care providers flexible and cost-effective care-delivery approaches," the Representatives wrote.
 
Another USDA broadband program—the Broadband Access Loan and Loan Guarantee Program—already uses those higher standards and the letter urges Vilsack to update the Community Connect program to the same speeds.

To find out your internet speed, take this test from the ConnectME Authority.