The bill would direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to create the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
In a release, Baldwin highlights the importance of high-speed broadband internet to small businesses and rural communities in Wisconsin.
“Our bipartisan legislation will better marshal our federal resources to help bring broadband access for all — no matter where you live in Wisconsin,” the Madison Dem said.
Johnson says the bill would benefit farmers, schools and rural doctors by streamlining how federal resources are managed.
“While the federal government has numerous programs dedicated to bridging the urban-rural digital divide, the bureaucracy can be confusing,” the Oshkosh Republican said, adding the bill will connect more Wisconsinites while reducing “government waste.”
The bill was introduced by a group of lawmakers including Baldwin and Johnson, as well as Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-N.M.; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; Cory Gardner, R-Colo.; and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
See the bill text: http://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/access%20broadband%20bill.pdf
See the Johnson release: http://www.wispolitics.com/2019/u-s-sen-johnson-introduces-bill-to-improve-access-to-broadband-expansion-resources-with-bipartisan-group-of-senators/
See the Baldwin release: http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/press-releases/access-broadband-act
;
