Kuster Statement on New NTIA Broadband Data, Reaffirms Commitment To Closing Digital Divide

Statement

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Rural Broadband Task Force, released the following statement after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published an interactive digital map using newly compiled local and national data that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country:

"A clear understanding of broadband use and access in the U.S. is critical to ensuring every American can connect to the internet and participate in our digital economy, especially as we continue to recover from COVID-19," said Rep. Kuster. "This new tool published by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration amplifies national and local data and confirms what we have long known to be true: there are massive disparities in broadband connectivity."

"As a member of the House Rural Broadband Task Force, ensuring every family in the Granite State -- regardless of their income level -- has access to high-speed internet is top of mind," Rep. Kuster continued. "In my district, many families live outside of service areas, so connecting to broadband isn't an option. But access does not just mean having a commercial provider -- we also must do more to ensure broadband is affordable. I look forward to using this new NTIA tool in Congress and sharing its insights with my colleagues as we continue and bolster our efforts to connect every American with the internet service they need to thrive."

The NTIA's public "Indicators of Broadband Need" tool puts data from both public and private sources on one map and contains data aggregated at the county, census tract, and census block level from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), M-Lab, Ookla and Microsoft. Speed-test data provided by M-Lab and Ookla help to illustrate the reality that communities experience when going online, with many parts of the country reporting speeds that fall below the FCC's current benchmark for fixed broadband service of 25 Mbps download, 3 Mbps upload. This is the first map that allows users to graphically compare and contrast these different data sources.

Kuster is a leader in Congress for expanding access to broadband, especially in rural and low-income communities. Earlier this year, she joined House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06) in introducing H.R. 1783, the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, which authorizes over $94 billion to ensure unserved and underserved communities have affordable high-speed internet access.

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