Pence bill aims to aid rural internet access

Greg Pence Eric Connolly U.S. House Office of Photography

Staff Reports

U.S. Reps. Greg Pence, R-Ind., and Peter Visclosky, D-Ind., on Thursday introduced legislation they say will close the digital divide in rural America.

House Resolution 4283, the Broadband Interagency Coordination Act of 2019, directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to enter into an agreement to coordinate on the distribution of federal funds for broadband deployment, according to a news release.

The agreement will make it easier for rural communities to access high-speed internet by ensuring taxpayer dollars are effectively targeting unserved and underserved areas, the congressmen said.

“As I travel throughout Indiana’s 6th District, the lack of high-speed internet access is a critical issue impacting Hoosiers in rural communities. I’ve heard stories from students who drive to McDonald’s just to complete their homework, stories from medical providers struggling to utilize telehealth advancements and stories from our farmers who are disconnected from global markets,” said Pence, a Columbus resident who represents the state’s 6th District.

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Mo., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced a companion bill, Senate Bill 1294, according to the news release.