Mayors across the country from both parties call on GOP to include broadband in infrastructure bill

More than 60 mayors and other city or county representatives called on President Trump and congressional Republicans to include broadband in any infrastructure legislation. “Broadband internet access is necessary infrastructure, and key to prosperity,” the letter from the elected representatives said. “It empowers entrepreneurship and economic growth, arms our teachers and students for success in the classroom, and gives our citizens a voice in the national dialog on our future.”

The mayors join a growing chorus of elected leaders that are urging Congress and the Trump administration to ensure any infrastructure bill includes broadband, the essential infrastructure of the 21st century. Recently 48 US senators signed a bipartisan letter to President Trump urging him to prioritize policies that will promote the deployment of high-speed, reliable broadband for all. The week before, Democratic senators released an infrastructure proposal that includes $20 billion for broadband buildout.

Links:

Letter from representatives from 62 cities across the country to Republicans on broadband infrastructure (Next Century Cities, Mar. 1, 2017)

48 US senators to Trump: any infrastructure plan must include broadband (Speed Matters, Feb. 3, 2017)

Democratic infrastructure plan includes $20 billion for broadband (Speed Matters, Jan. 26, 2017)

A Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure (US Senate Democrats, Jan. 24, 2017)