Reps. Cammack, Soto, Jackson, Perez Introduce Rural Internet Improvement Act Of 2023

Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL), Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-TX), and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) introduced the Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2023. The Rural Internet Improvement Act eliminates duplicative broadband programs at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) by merging and codifying the popular Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program (ReConnect) with USDA's broadband loan and grant program. ReConnect builds upon past successes of these programs by enhancing the participation of all types of providers. Reliable high-speed broadband services are necessary for America's rural communities, providing opportunities for telehealth, education, and economic development. There are more than 14.5 million Americans who still lack access to both fixed and mobile broadband, according to the Federal Communications Commission's most recent Broadband Deployment Report.