During today’s Senate Agriculture committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock secured a commitment from USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development nominee Dr. Basil Gooden to prioritize an efficient rollout of broadband development funds to ensure all Georgians have access to a reliable internet connection

 

Senator Reverend Warnock is a champion for securing robust federal investments in broadband access to every Georgian across the state. Since taking office, Senator Warnock has secured over $2.5 billion in federal dollars for Georgia broadband expansion and improvement

 

15% of Georgians currently lack reliable broadband access

 

Senator Reverend Warnock: “…broadband is to the 21st century what electricity was in the 20th century. And I think if we think about it in those terms, it will sharpen the urgency with which we address this issue”

WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock speaks at Agriculture committee hearing

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) secured a commitment from USDA’s Under Secretary for Rural Development nominee Dr. Basil Gooden to prioritize an efficient rollout of broadband development funds to ensure all Georgians have access to a reliable internet connection. The Senator secured the commitment at a U.S. Senate Agriculture committee hearing considering the nomination of Dr. Gooden, as well as Summer Mersinger as a CFTC Commissioner.

“As of last year, 90% of the places in Georgia that are unconnected are in rural communities…” said Senator Reverend Warnock during his questioning at the hearing. “…broadband is to the 21st century what electricity was in a 20th century. And I think if we think about it in those terms, it will sharpen the urgency with which we address this issue. Folks in rural Georgia are consistently telling me that they don’t have adequate internet access and they can’t take advantage of distance learning, of telehealth services.”

“All of this new broadband infrastructure doesn’t do a bit of good if people can’t access it, but also if people can’t afford it,” continued Senator Warnock. “And that’s why I was glad to see that the Biden Administration requested that Congress provide additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. We’ve got to keep those two things, those two priorities at the center of our minds, both accessibility and affordability.”

Senator Warnock is a champion for securing robust federal investments in broadband access to every Georgian across the state. Since taking office, Senator Warnock has secured over $2.5 billion in federal dollars for Georgia broadband expansion and improvement. Most recently, the Senatorannounced $1.3 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding, which works to expand broadband and strengthen access to affordable, high-speed internet across our state, particularly for the estimated 15% of Georgians who currently lack reliable broadband access. Last year, Senator Warnock hosted FCC Chair Rosenworcel in Jackson County where he took her to meet with parents, students, and local officials about their broadband needs and the challenges they face. He also received a commitment from Rosenworcel to connect every Georgian to affordable and reliable broadband. The Senator has led the entire Georgia delegation in ensuring every dollar possible of federal broadband funding comes to the state through accurate broadband mapping. In a June Senate Commerce committee hearing, Senator Warnock pushed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) nominees on how the commission can work to ensure Georgians of all income levels are able to afford internet access. 

See below key excerpts from Senator Warnock’s questioning during this week’s Senate Agriculture committee hearing:

·Senator Warnock (SW): “As of last year, 90% of the places in Georgia that are unconnected are in rural communities. And we’ve already heard a lot about that today. There’s no secret that rural America, rural Georgia struggle with this issue of connectivity. And, you know, as I’ve said, time and time again, broadband is to the 21st century what electricity was in a 20th century. And I think if we think about it in those terms, it will sharpen the urgency with which we address this issue. Folks in rural Georgia are consistently telling me that they don’t have adequate internet access. And they can’t take advantage of distance learning, of telehealth services.”

·SW: “I’ve spent a lot of time with farmers and working with Senator Thune and others to address the issue of precision agriculture. It’s impressive to see what farmers are able to do with these new precision agricultural technologies. We’re looking to standardize these technologies so that they can talk to one another. But none of that means anything at all if people can’t get online. So, I’m glad that the ReConnect program has provided over $93.5 million to deploy broadband in rural areas of Georgia that lack sufficient access. Dr. Gooden, if confirmed, will you commit to working with me and my colleagues to prioritize and efficient rollout of these broadband development funds to ensure all Georgians have access to a reliable internet connection? Help me to understand where that is in your suite of priorities, and how you will help us to get that done.”

·Dr. Basil Gooden: “… High-speed internet is vitally important to rural America. And I like to say it is not an amenity, it’s a necessity. We see that across the country. And so I fully commit to ensuring that we work with your staff and other members of Congress to make sure that we roll out our reconnect program and we continue to work with other parts of the federal government, like the Department of Commerce, NTIA, FCC, to make sure that we don’t duplicate efforts, but we augment and support each other. So certainly committed to addressing broadband issues across rural America.”

·SW: “Well, thank you for your commitment, it’s critical. And we’ve got to remain focused on this issue and reconnect, to be fair is just one component, right? Of solving this this big problem. But all of this new broadband infrastructure doesn’t do a bit of good if people can’t access it, but also if people can’t afford it. And that’s why I was glad to see that the Biden Administration requested that Congress provide additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. We’ve got to keep those two things, those two priorities at the center of our minds, both accessibility and affordability, so I hope we can get those things done.”

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