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Golden Tapped to Join Rural Broadband Task Force

May 15, 2019

Task force will lead push to bring affordable, reliable broadband to rural communities by 2025

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) was named this week to the newly-formed House Task Force on Rural Broadband. The Task Force, which includes 16 members of Congress from across the country, has been tasked with putting forward solutions that will end the urban-rural digital divide and deliver access to affordable high-speed internet to every community in America by 2025.

"Right now, many rural communities in Maine are missing out on opportunities to expand businesses, create jobs, and attract new residents because they don't have access to broadband internet," said Congressman Golden. "Our district is one of the most rural in the nation, so we have the most to gain by the expansion of broadband. I'm ready to get to work on the House Task Force on Rural Broadband. Mainers want action on this issue, and our goal is to bring broadband to every community in America within the next six years."

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that 25 million Americans living in rural communities are still without reliable access to high-speed internet coverage. The Task Force on Rural Broadband will work with stakeholders ranging from the administration to local governments to develop strategies to build and expand quality broadband exposure to rural America.

The Task Force's top priorities include:

  • Identifying necessary steps to position the United States to lead the world in universal broadband deployment;

  • Passing legislation to advance a transformative agenda on rural broadband that accomplishes the goal of affordable universal access by 2025;

  • Highlighting success stories and innovative approaches; and

  • Ensuring that federal funding for rural broadband is spent effectively.

Congressman Golden is a member of the House Small Business Committee where he chairs the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure. The congressman also recently released a survey to gather input on which infrastructure priorities would have the greatest impact on Mainers.