October 16, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 163 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H8152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RURAL BROADBAND CRISIS

  (Mr. DELGADO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an urgent crisis in 
our communities: access to rural broadband. Over the district work 
period, I held a field hearing on rural broadband with FCC Commissioner 
Geoffrey Starks, where New York's 19th Congressional District residents 
shared their stories about the need to improve rural broadband internet 
in upstate New York. The commissioner heard from educators, healthcare 
providers, and small business owners all impacted by this issue.
  Following that hearing, I have introduced the Broadband Speed Act and 
the Community Broadband Mapping Act. This legislative package will 
address flawed broadband mapping practices that result in the FCC 
overcounting rural communities and require that projects funded with 
FCC money are future-proof, or built to withstand changes in 
technology.
  This legislation would also allow local governments, co-ops, 
community groups, and small providers to access funding that would 
allow them to collect information on local broadband service in order 
to challenge a finding that they are, in fact, served.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to take up this legislation and close 
the digital divide.

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