Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine)  joined her colleagues on the House Rural Broadband Caucus in sending a bipartisan letter with over 70 other Representatives asking President Biden to prioritize broadband investments in underserved areas of rural America as part of any infrastructure proposal his administration presents to Congress. President Biden has made a passing a major infrastructure package a top priority of his new administration.

In the letter, the Representatives wrote: “As you develop your infrastructure proposal to present to Congress, we write to urge you to include investments that will bring the benefits of broadband connectivity to unserved rural America and tribal areas. In the 21st Century, high-speed broadband is no longer a luxury amenity, but rather an essential service for homes and businesses in this interconnected world.”

Broadband access is mandatory in the 21^st century and has become even more essential as the pandemic has forced many people to move online to work, attend school, and even socialize. In particular, many children without broadband access have fallen behind at school because they have been unable to attend online class or complete online work. 

As one of the most rural states in the country, Maine students are particularly impacted by the ‘homework gap’ that exists between children who have reliable internet access at home and those who do not. 

The Rural Broadband Caucus is a bipartisan House caucus founded in 2016. The bipartisan initiative facilitates discussion, educates Members of Congress and staff, and develops policy solutions to the digital divide that exists in rural America. 

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