Golden Brings Congress to Washington County to Learn from Mainers Building Rural Broadband Infrastructure

Statement

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) brought a congressional field hearing to the University of Maine at Machias yesterday to hear from the small businesses, organizations, and stakeholders working to build out broadband infrastructure in rural Maine. Golden, chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting & Infrastructure, was joined by Subcommittee Ranking Member Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) for the bipartisan hearing, which sought to identify policy changes that will help connect small businesses in rural Maine with broadband internet.

"We're going to find the solutions that will help us connect more small businesses in rural Maine with high-speed broadband in places like Baileyville, Machias, and Roque Bluffs, not in Washington," said Congressman Golden. "That's why it's so important that we bring Congress to Washington County, where small businesses and towns are doing the hard work -- and succeeding -- to build the broadband infrastructure their communities need. In today's hearing, Congressman Stauber and I worked across the aisle with our witnesses to identify ways we can change policy in Congress to lower barriers and provide more resources for companies and organizations building the infrastructure our rural areas desperately need."

"With quick and reliable broadband access, even the smallest towns and communities can compete with the rest of the world," said Congressman Stauber. "I am committed to closing the digital divide between our urban and rural communities as broadband is vital to the success of every small business, school, hospital, and family. I am thankful to be working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on this issue. Together, we can ensure every American small business and family has access to dependable broadband."

Golden and Stauber's field hearing was the first congressional hearing in Washington County in decades. The members of Congress and witnesses discussed the challenges small businesses in rural Maine face without adequate broadband access, including limited opportunities to grow their businesses, attract new employees, and compete in the digital age.

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