Congressman Baird leads bipartisan effort to prioritize rural broadband access

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Fourth District Indiana Congressman Jim Baird (R-Greencastle) has introduced a resolution emphasizing the need to invest in broadband expansion.

“As Congress continues to make legislative decisions and prepare for the 2023 Farm Bill, we must ensure that rural America does not get left behind by securing reliable broadband access for the millions of Americans who rely on the Internet to work and learn,” Congressman Baird said.

“Zip codes should not determine access to high-speed Internet,” Baird added, “yet that is the unfortunate reality for many Hoosiers across Indiana’s 4th Congressional District, and I’m committed to reaching across the aisle so we bridge this digital divide in education, healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture.”

Congressman Henry Cuellar agreed.

“High-speed broadband is critical for rural America’s growth and prosperity, yet many of our neighbors are unable to obtain reliable Internet access. I remain committed to improving internet speeds for schools, homes, doctors’ offices, and businesses, which will bring new economic development opportunities to our communities, especially in South Texas,” Cuellar said. “I thank my colleague, Congressman Baird, for working with me across party lines to close the digital divide between urban and rural America. The Rural Broadband Resolution will enable rural communities to fully participate in the modern economy.”

Downloads, video streaming and many common digital activities require high-speed internet connections. According to a 2020 report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 22.3 percent of rural Americans lack access to 25 Mbps/3Mbps service, which is the FCC’s minimum standard for broadband internet. Conversely, only 1.5 percent of urban Americans are without access to these same speeds.