Hearing of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade of the House Small Business Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Rod Blum, Hearing on Rural Broadband and the Business Case for Small Carriers

Hearing

Thank you, Chairwoman Radewagen. I would also like to thank our witnesses for
your willingness to speak with us today.

Today's joint hearing focuses a topic that is particularly important to the many Iowa
family farmers and rural community members I represent back in my home district. While
rural broadband was touched upon at the last hearing I chaired in February, I thank the
Chairwoman for the opportunity to take a deeper dive into the specific challenges facing
rural broadband deployment in our conversation today.

It is easy to recognize the importance of seamless and robust internet and
telecommunications service connecting rural America to the rest of the country. However,
it is critically important that we fully understanding how to get to that point, and how we
can continue to nurture that growth.

Small, rural internet service providers shoulder a heavy burden
deploying broadband across hundreds of miles of diverse and sparse terrain. The significant
investment required to deploy, maintain, update, and continually service these high-cost,
rural areas should not be taken lightly. It is imperative that we identify and help mitigate
the difficulties identified by small, rural carriers in deploying broadband so we can begin to
close the urban and rural digital divide.

The ability to deliver a high quality of life to rural Americans, spur job growth and
job creation, improve access to education, health services, and innovation in the agritech
sector are all dependent on the ability to transmit data and communicate information
quickly, efficiently, and at low cost. Echoing the sentiment expressed by the Chairwoman,
as we look ahead at plans to improve our nation's infrastructure, we need to make sure
that rural broadband is part of that discussion. The progress of our nation depends on it.

I look forward to the testimony of our witnesses to identify the challenges for small,
rural carriers and potentially uncover solutions that Congress may consider to ensure that
the mobile wireless marketplace is competitive and fair for all businesses.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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