Boozman Urges President to Include Broadband in any Infrastructure Initiative
Press Release
U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a leader of the Senate Broadband Caucus, pressed President Trump to include broadband in any infrastructure initiative.
Boozman joined his Senate Broadband Caucus co-chairs Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) to lead 48 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the president urging him to prioritize policies that will promote deployment of high-speed, reliable broadband for all Americans as part of any infrastructure initiative.
"A broad agenda to promote broadband access will empower Americans living in every community -- from urban city centers to rural towns -- with economic opportunities that will jumpstart growth in jobs and wages," the senators wrote. "That is why improving broadband access must be a priority in the 115th Congress and broadband must be part of any discussions regarding infrastructure investments to meet the demands of the 21st century economy. In addition, policies that reduce barriers to investment in communications infrastructure and streamline the deployment process will play a key role in expanding economic growth."
For every $5 billion invested in broadband infrastructure, 250,000 jobs are created and with every percentage point increase in new broadband distribution, employment expands by 300,000.
In addition to the co-chairs of the Senate Broadband Caucus, the letter was also signed by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Al Franken (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Edward Markey (D-MA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI).
The House Broadband Caucus also sent a similar letter to the president today.
Source