One urgent issue that the Commission can help to address is the barrage of harassment that is targeting election workers.

It is why I and many others support the basic federal standards in the Freedom to Vote Act.

We have got to continue to support the election officials on the front lines in our democracy who need to be able to rely on regular and steady federal funding to do their jobs.

It is why I support the John Lewis bill to repair and restore the Voting Rights Act.

We've got to fix this. And it's really caught up in the situation at the southern border.

The specter of doing anything that politically can be seen as winning or losing on the whole southern border situation gets in the way.

Our overall job is to revitalize rural America, and the health of rural America.

We need a rural broadband that will do three things.

Thank you. Ms. Shute, can you explain the Community Union District concept in Vermont, and whether you think entities like that should be eligible for ReConnect grants?

The reality is that rurality is not a straight line.

One-third of rural Americans are unable to access broadband of 100 Mbps.

Our overall job is to revitalize rural America, and the health of rural America.

I applaud the Appropriations Act providing $365 million for Round 5 of ReConnect, but it undermines two key characteristics of the ReConnect program.

Thank you. Mr. Shekleton, I appreciate your testimony about coordination, it is really important.

Thank you. The streamlined permitting seems to be a common concern that every one of you has.

When our communities lack access to quality internet, they are locked out of the global economy.

Thank you. Mr. Shekleton, I appreciate your testimony about coordination, it is really important.

I would like to conclude by saying that broadband is fundamentally an equity issue.

We need a rural broadband that will do three things.

Today along with Senator Marshall, I introduced the Reconnecting Rural America Act.

One-third of rural Americans are unable to access broadband of 100 Mbps.

When our communities lack access to quality internet, they are locked out of the global economy.

The reality is that rurality is not a straight line.

Today along with Senator Marshall, I introduced the Reconnecting Rural America Act.

Thank you. Ms. Shute, can you explain the Community Union District concept in Vermont, and whether you think entities like that should be eligible for ReConnect grants?