5 Things Everyone Should Know About Broadband Access in Rural America.

[Commentary] Broadband deployment to all corners of America is essential to building our digital economy. Here are five things you should know about broadband in rural America -- with five reminders of how outdated rural broadband laws are:

1. Universal Access to Broadband Makes America Stronger: Rural Americans form an integral part of our nation. Better broadband infrastructure means people can more easily connect with each other, access distance learning and expand their economic opportunities.
2. Rural Infrastructure is Expensive to Build and Difficult to Maintain, But the Investment is Worth It
3. Rural Americans Embrace New Technology, Too
4. Outdated Rules Hurt Rural America: Outdated rules effectively require rural Americans to pay for a traditional landline -- even if they no longer want one -- in order to get broadband services. These rules particularly disadvantage low-income consumers by putting the price of broadband out of reach unless they pay for additional, duplicative landline phone service.
5. A Common-Sense Fix is Available: As we move forward, we cannot allow existing broadband networks to wither or for rural Americans to go underserved. Solving the “stand-alone broadband” issue is a common-sense reform and 59 of our Senate colleagues agree with our demand that the FCC act now to solve this problem.