Ben Ray Luján

What I am looking at is, what is it going to take for us to live up to the commitment, to make sure that we have equitable speeds in rural, as well as urban?

We have got to modernize there.

Can Congress support providers like yours in constructing future-proof networks that meet the highest standards of resiliency by passing an infrastructure package that would allow more investment in these areas?

I thank Chairman Ben Ray Lujan and Ranking Member John Thune, as well as the other esteemed members of the subcommittee.

When disaster strikes, these services connect us to someone who can help--firefighters, police officers, EMTs.

So, just to clarify, when a state or the FCC finds that essential networks are not adequately resilient, you do support them engaging in rulemaking on the subject?

I think, certainly, an infrastructure package would be a great start, in terms of continuing to expand and deploy broadband into rural and underserved areas.

New Mexicans and all Americans deserve better than this.

Thank you so much for being with us today.

Does wireless substitute for wireline connectivity? It absolutely does. It is doing it today.

We believe that wireless towers should be equipped with backup power.

In the fallout from Hurricane Maria, millions of Americans in Puerto Rico experienced telecommunication outages that lasted for months.

I believe that we need to have the inclusion of a comprehensive network solution in America.

It is time that these companies reinvest those profits toward ensuring that their users have access to resilient, redundant, and secure networks.

This is unacceptable, and Americans deserve to know the reliability of the critical infrastructure.

However, effective disaster response requires redundancy. It is important to anticipate failures and prepare accordingly.

How do you ensure that the backup power itself does not become a risk?

Thank you, Senator Young. Chief Johnson, the threat of wildfires has become a constant factor in states like New Mexico.

Our national commitments in this area has always been to make sure that rural and underserved communities be on that equal playing field.

In today's world, broadband is essential and telecommunications, including voice and Internet are basic and critical services that every American deserves.

No, they cannot. Not if they cannot afford it.

The priorities I listed--resilient, redundant, and secure--are fundamental principles we must consider.

So, would you support eliminating data caps from wireless companies?

Now is the time to get Federal investment in broadband right and that means investing in resilient, redundant, secure broadband networks.

I do not think that was the intent. And it is why we all should be looking at this.