Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, as a fifth generation Montanan, I have seen firsthand the struggles rural America faces when it comes to broadband connectivity. I worked in the cloud computing industry for 13 years, so I also know the opportunities created by technology and connectivity.

Not only does access to broadband connect rural Americans and tribal communities to the rest of the world, but there are many farming applications that will enable farmers in Montana to be more efficient and equip them to feed the growing population. Despite the importance of connecting these communities, Montana remains ranked among the worst States for broadband connectivity and there are too many instances where the Federal Government stands in the way of broadband infrastructure deployment. This is especially important for States like Montana where 29 percent of the State is federally owned. Every Federal agency has their own set of requirements for siting infrastructure on Federal lands, and the process can take up to 10 years in some cases. This burdensome, bureaucratic process is driving industry away from serving rural America and tribal lands.

That is why I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Streamlining and Investing in Broadband Infrastructure act with my colleagues Senator Klobuchar and Senator Gardner. The bill implements a dig once policy that incorporates broadband conduit installation into new highway projects. It also directs the Federal Government to further consolidate and streamline siting on Federal lands by establishing a fee schedule for the grant of property interests and by developing a master application form for communications construction on all Federal lands. Making effective use of existing resources and streamlining these processes are essential to continue broadband deployment in rural America. By making it easier for providers to lay the groundwork for broadband, we take an important step toward connecting our unserved communities.

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