Representative Angie Craig Meets with Acting FCC Chairwoman to Discuss Federal Efforts to Expand Broadband Access

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig held a meeting with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to discuss the federal government's efforts to expand broadband access, particularly for rural and underserved communities. On the call, Craig and Rosenworcel discussed improved broadband mapping, partnerships between the federal government and state and local partners, and efforts to support students and teachers who have increasingly relied on broadband internet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"With reliable, high-speed broadband access, even the smallest towns and communities can compete on the global stage," said Representative Angie Craig. "I'm grateful to Acting Commissioner Rosenworcel for meeting with me this afternoon to discuss how Congress can serve as an active and reliable partner in expanding internet access, especially to rural and underserved communities. I look forward to working with her as we continue our fight to close the digital divide in the United States."

Representative Craig's recent appointment to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce positions her to work closely with Acting Commissioner Rosenworcel on legislation to provide accessible and affordable broadband access to communities across the country. Just last week, Acting Commissioner Rosenworcel announced an intra-agency task force dedicated to implementing long-overdue improvements to the agency's broadband data and mapping tools – administratively implementing a bill introduced by Craig earlier this month.

Craig has made the expansion of broadband internet access a top legislative priority since joining Congress in 2019. As a member of the bipartisan House Task Force on Rural Broadband, Craig helped introduce the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, which would invest $100 billion in high-speed broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved communities across the United States. She also cosponsored the Accelerating Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communities Act, to repeal FCC regulations that limit local governments' ability to oversee the deployment of 5G broadband technology in their communities.