WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.) successfully offered an amendment to ensure communities across the Sixth District in Indiana, and rural America, have the necessary support to increase access to broadband programs. The amendment passed 425 to 6, indicating broad, bipartisan support, according to Pence’s office.
Specifically, the Pence Amendment increases funding for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program by $25 million, so that more communities in the Sixth District have access to health care, educational, government services, and business opportunities. The amendment is revenue-neutral.
More than 14 million Americans living in rural communities still lack access to basic broadband service. In the Sixth District, the Distance Leaning and Telemedicine grant program has been successful at linking teachers in one area to students in another, according to Pence’s office.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
