Members of Congress Urge Trump Administration to Support Funding Dedicated to Ensuring Small Broadband Providers Can Sustain Services for Low-Income Families in Future Coronavirus Relief Packages

Sens Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Reps Peter Welch (D-VT) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging the Administration to support dedicated funding for small broadband providers to keep students and low-income families in their communities connected to the internet during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many small broadband providers have committed to sustaining critical broadband services and upgrades for students and low-income families who cannot afford payment during this public health crisis. But these small broadband providers—which contribute to more than 77,000 jobs and support more than $10 billion in economic activity in the United States—may be unable to continue to provide these services if customers are unable to pay for a prolonged period of time. Although the CARES Act included funding for rural broadband deployment, it did not include dedicated funding to help small broadband providers sustain services and upgrades for students and low-income families. Without support from your Administration, small providers may be unable to ensure that the communities they serve have access to critical internet connectivity.