Congresswoman Angie Craig Advocates for Rural Broadband Access in Small Business Field Hearing

On Thursday May 30th, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig joined the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure Chairman Jared Golden (ME-2), Ranking Member Pete Stauber (MN-08) and Rep. Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) for a field hearing in Scandia to discuss the limitations small businesses face when they do not have access to reliable broadband.

Rep. Craig knows that access to reliable, high-speed internet is critical for success in a 21st century economy. That's why she has cosponsored the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, which would unify federal broadband resources to better meet the specific needs of local communities and small businesses, and the Accelerating Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communities Act of 2019, which would repeal FCC regulations that limit local governments' ability to oversee the deployment of 5G broadband technology in their communities.

"I came to Congress to work across the aisle and expand economic opportunity for all Minnesotans," said Rep. Craig. "I'm pleased to serve on the House Committee on Small Business as well as the Agriculture Committee to work to invest in broadband infrastructure and empower local governments to tailor improvements for local needs, which is absolutely essential for small businesses and farmers in my district. I'm proud to be working with my fellow Minnesotans on this critical issue."

"With quick and reliable broadband access, even the smallest towns and communities can compete with the rest of the world," said Rep. Stauber. "Unfortunately, much more needs to be done to connect communities across rural Minnesota and America to high speed Internet access. I am committed to closing the digital divide between our urban and rural communities as broadband is vital to the success of every small business, school, hospital, and family. I am thankful to be working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on this issue. Together, we can ensure every American small business and family has access to dependable broadband."

"Lack of access to broadband is holding rural communities in America back," said Rep. Golden. "The insight we heard from Minnesota small businesses echoes what I'm hearing from small businesses in Maine. Bridging the digital divide is a bipartisan issue, and Congressman Stauber and I are working together to find solutions that bring fast, affordable internet to more rural communities in our district."

"Without reliable, high-speed broadband, rural enterprises are often at a competitive disadvantage," said Rep. Hagedorn. "Rural America has been overlooked for far too long. I'm working with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to turn that around. We must do all possible to create opportunity and sustain our Minnesota way of life."

In March 2019, Rep. Craig spoke at a Small Business Committee hearing on Rural Digital Entrepreneurship about the need to increase access to broadband for businesses. She also advocates for rural broadband access in her roles on the House Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.