“As Congress considers renewing the Farm Bill, it is critical that the USDA’s rural broadband program focus on closing the digital divide in communities lacking broadband and avoid grants to areas where service already exists. NCTA applauds Senator Boozman, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, on his Farm Bill Framework that targets funding to communities most in need and enhances coordination among federal agencies to prevent overbuilding. Closing the digital divide is possible, but only if we remain focused in dedicating scarce resources to fill in broadband gaps.”
