Loebsack Joins House Task Force on Rural Broadband

Statement

Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he has been named to serve as a member of the new House Task Force on Rural Broadband, which will be chaired by House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. The Task Force seeks to provide coordination and leadership to end the rural-digital divide and will work to advance solutions to ensure all Americans have access to high-speed internet by 2025.

"The future of economic development in Iowa and across the country depends, in large part, on access to the internet and specifically high-speed broadband. I have met with many small businesses, farmers, educators, healthcare providers and rural telecommunication companies who have stressed the importance of expanding high speed internet to rural communities. Folks simply can't compete in the 21st Century economy we live in without access to high-speed broadband internet," said Congressman Loebsack.

"I'm pleased that Congressman Loebsack is joining the House Task Force on Rural Broadband Task Force to ensure that all Americans can compete in the 21st century economy," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn. "High-speed internet is an essential service in America today--yet too many of our fellow citizens in rural communities are being left behind. It's unacceptable in 2019 that many rural communities have limited to no access to the internet. If rural America is to thrive in the 21st century information economy, it must have affordable and accessible internet service to every community."

More than $60 billion in public resources have been invested to bring broadband to rural America; however, the FCC reports 25 million rural Americans are still without high-speed internet access. High-speed internet is a modern-day necessity and every Americans should have the ability to access affordable high-speed internet.

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