Western governors urge Congress, federal agencies to take action to improve broadband access

Western Governors encourage Congress and federal agencies to recognize that the current definition of broadband – 25/3 Mbps – does not correspond with the requisite download and upload speeds necessary to support many business, education, and health care applications that promote economic and community prosperity.  We support efforts to adopt a higher, scalable, and consistent standard across federal broadband programs – at least 100/20 Mbps and scalable to 100 Mbps symmetrical – that more accurately reflects modern innovations and bandwidth demands. Western Governors request that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal entities prioritize scalable broadband infrastructure investments that meet communities’ increased bandwidth demands into the future.  Funds for equipment maintenance and upgrades are essential to ensure that federal broadband investments continue to provide high-quality service. While Western Governors are heartened by significant federal investments in broadband, principally the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program established through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Western Governors urge the FCC, NTIA, USDA, and other federal agencies involved in broadband deployment to work closely with Governors and state and territorial agencies and respond to and address their needs and concerns prior to releasing large tranches of funding.  In particular, federal agencies that make independent broadband infrastructure awards should consult with states and territories prior to finalizing awards to ensure they align with state and territorial BEAD plans. Federal funding and allocation formulas should reflect the exorbitant costs and challenges that the West faces when deploying broadband so that states and territories receive adequate funding to bring sufficient internet access to as many hard-to-reach households as possible.