Letter to the Hon. Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture - As The COVID-19 Crisis Causes New Yorkers To Work And Learn From Home, Gillibrand Renews Call For $100 Million In Broadband Funding For Rural Areas

Letter

Dear Secretary Perdue,

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on rural America, further stretching what is already limited resources in rural and native communities across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to work from home, students to learn from home, and people to access healthcare from home. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that broadband isn't just nice, it is necessary for our nation's economy to work for everyone.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, rural and native communities were already facing a broadband gap. According to the FCC's 2019 Broadband Deployment Report, over 25% of rural Americans are without access to fixed terrestrial broadband at quality speeds, compared to only 1.7% of Americans living in an urban environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted these broadband deficiencies as Americans are forced to stay home to work and go to school.

The USDA ReConnect program was specifically designed to address rural and urban internet inequities, by equipping rural America with grants and loans to facilitate and fund construction of new broadband infrastructure. Recognizing the need for broadband access in rural communities, Congress appropriated an additional $100 million under The CARES Act for the ReConnect Program. However, the USDA has only obligated a small fraction of this money.

These funds are desperately needed, and it is unacceptable that this money is still unspent.

We ask that you listen to the needs of millions of Americans living in rural communities across the country, expedite the spending of ReConnect program dollars, and prioritize improved broadband access.

Sincerely,