Political Quotes

“today I am introducing the Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act to help small ports access broadband loans and grants, which will increase internet service in rural coastal communities nationwide. Nearly a third of Americans lack access to high-speed internet, and there is a considerable digital divide between rural and urban America. Rural communities must be brought up to speed so that all Americans can compete online in a global economy. In rural coastal areas people congregate near inland and small ports, and these harbors act as hubs for commerce and tourism. This bill recognizes the importance of small ports to their rural economies. This bill will help small ports nationwide get Federal loans and grants and improve their broadband coverage, thereby enabling working-waterfronts to order inventory and coordinate deliveries, access real-time weather updates, and grow economically. Broadband loan and grant applications submitted to the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service are assigned different levels of priority before they are awarded. This bill recognizes the importance of small ports, and elevates the priority of applications seeking to boost internet capacity. This bill states that broadband loan and grant applications from small ports will be considered equal in priority to applications that are developed with the participation of a non-profit or philanthropic organization. Mr.…”