Rural America cannot be overlooked

The Federal Communications Commission recently announced that it was authorizing nearly $5 million to invest in expanding rural broadband access across South Dakota. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, who visited SD with me in 2017, said that he was “excited to see the benefits for rural residents who live all across the country.” According to the FCC’s recent broadband deployment reports, the number of Americans lacking access to a fixed broadband connection has continued to decline, but this issue will continue to be a priority for me until we’ve closed that gap entirely for everyone who wants access to broadband. As folks in SD know, rural America has a lot to offer, and with the potential for new and more efficient broadband infrastructure, there will be even more meaningful opportunities for advancements in health care, agriculture, education, economic development, and more.

[Senator John Thune (R-SD) is Chairman of the Senate Communications Subcommittee.]