Walberg Applauds New Report Providing Roadmap for Affordable Rural Broadband Deployment

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) today made the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's release of the American Broadband Initiative Milestones Report.

"I'm pleased to see the Trump Administration's commitment to rural America and their vision outlining ways to improve the deployment of affordable broadband Internet in underserved areas," said Walberg. "These communities are often left behind, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) can play an important role in coordinating the efficient use of federal funds used to support rural broadband projects. This report highlights the need for NTIA to continue robust coordination of broadband mapping and provides an important roadmap for streamlined permitting and for making affordable broadband a reality in rural America."

The report follows the work of the Broadband Interagency Working Group, co-chaired by NTIA the Rural Utilities Service, and represents a unified, government-wide initiative to facilitate broadband deployment. Currently, several important programs that identify unserved and underserved areas, or programs that provide federal funding, are spread out across the federal government. This report provides a roadmap for NTIA and other federal partners to make sure these programs are well coordinated and provide the most bang for the buck.

Congressman Walberg serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. For more information on Walberg's work in Congress visit walberg.house.gov