Rep. Craig Urges Administration to Follow Through on Promise to Deliver High-Speed Internet to Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Adam Gray (D-CA) in urging the Administration to follow through on its promise to deliver high-speed internet to rural communities through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. 

In a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, the lawmakers expressed concerns about the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) recent guidance that could set back broadband deployment in rural areas.

“We remain committed to ensuring the BEAD Program delivers on its promise to strengthen the U.S. economy and connect rural Americans with the opportunities enabled by high-speed internet,” the Members wrote. “However, recent guidance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) raises concerns that the program could be slowed just as states are gaining momentum.” 

“This program was intended to strengthen underserved areas by providing the highest-performance and most scalable networks, so they can compete in the modern economy,” the Members continued. “In many of our districts, higher deployment costs are a reality. A one-size-fits all model puts rural communities at a disadvantage.

The Members concluded, “We urge NTIA to preserve the program’s original intent while streamlining deployment efforts to avoid further disruptions.”

As a co-chair of the Congressional Rural Broadband Caucus, Rep. Craig has led the effort to connect Minnesota’s rural communities to high-speed internet. 

Last Congress, Rep. Craig led a group of Members in urging Speaker Johnson to take action to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided 23 million American households – and over 244,000 Minnesota households – with access to affordable high-speed internet. She later introduced the Secure and Affordable Broadband Extension Act to increase funding for federal broadband accessibility programs like the ACP, which expired in June of 2024.

Last year, she secured a $1 million federal investment to improve internet access in Le Sueur County, Minnesota.

You can read the full text of the letter here.

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