Representative Clyburn Forms Rural Broadband Task Force
Published by Multi Channel News on May 13, 2019
By John Eggerton
House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) has launched the House [Democratic] Task Force on Rural Broadband to try and help close the rural digital divide and eliminate "digital deserts."
“High-speed internet is an essential service in America today—yet too many of our fellow citizens in rural communities are being left behind," said Rep. Clyburn. "I have heard numerous stories of families traveling many miles to places where their children can access the internet to do their homework. It’s unacceptable in 2019 that many rural communities have limited to no access to the internet. If rural America is to thrive in the 21st century information economy, it must have affordable and accessible internet service to every community.”
The issue runs in the family. Closing that broadband divide was and is a priority for former FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn, James Clyburn's daughter.
In February, Mignon Clyburn was tapped to head a new INCOMPAS campaign focused on boosting "tech innovation and inclusion" in rural America.
The rollout of the task force Monday (May 13) coincides with Infrastructure Week and in the wake of the President's commitment to a $2 trillion infrastructure package to include broadband. The President has said getting broadband to farmers for this-gen as well as next-gen high tech agriculture a priority.
Read the original article here
By John Eggerton
House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) has launched the House [Democratic] Task Force on Rural Broadband to try and help close the rural digital divide and eliminate "digital deserts."
“High-speed internet is an essential service in America today—yet too many of our fellow citizens in rural communities are being left behind," said Rep. Clyburn. "I have heard numerous stories of families traveling many miles to places where their children can access the internet to do their homework. It’s unacceptable in 2019 that many rural communities have limited to no access to the internet. If rural America is to thrive in the 21st century information economy, it must have affordable and accessible internet service to every community.”
The issue runs in the family. Closing that broadband divide was and is a priority for former FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn, James Clyburn's daughter.
In February, Mignon Clyburn was tapped to head a new INCOMPAS campaign focused on boosting "tech innovation and inclusion" in rural America.
The rollout of the task force Monday (May 13) coincides with Infrastructure Week and in the wake of the President's commitment to a $2 trillion infrastructure package to include broadband. The President has said getting broadband to farmers for this-gen as well as next-gen high tech agriculture a priority.
Read the original article here