Sens. Cramer & Klobuchar, Reps. Welch & Marshall Urge Administration to Support Funding Dedicated to Ensuring Small Broadband Providers Can Sustain Critical Internet Services for Low-Income Families and Students in Future Coronavirus Relief Packages

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS-01) wrote a letter to the President urging the Administration to support dedicated funding for small broadband providers to keep students and low-income families in their communities connected to the internet during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Many small broadband providers have committed to sustaining critical broadband services and upgrades for students and low-income families who cannot afford payment during this public health crisis. But these small broadband providers—which contribute to more than 77,000 jobs and support more than $10 billion in economic activity in the United States—may be unable to continue to provide these services if customers are unable to pay for a prolonged period of time,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Although the CARES Act included funding for rural broadband deployment, it did not include dedicated funding to help small broadband providers sustain services and upgrades for students and low-income families. Without support from your Administration, small providers may be unable to ensure that the communities they serve have access to critical internet connectivity.”

In March, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation to sustain rural broadband connectivity during the coronavirus pandemic. The Keeping Critical Connections Act would appropriate $2 billion for a temporary Keeping Critical Connections fund at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help small broadband providers sustain critical internet services and upgrades for students and low-income families during the pandemic.

Earlier this month, Senators Cramer and Klobuchar and Representatives Peter Welch and Roger Marshall led a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to include dedicated funding to help small broadband providers sustain internet services and upgrades for students and low-income families in any future legislation in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The full text of the letter can be found here.