Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Business Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my colleague's bill, the ACCESS BROADBAND Act.

Mr. Tonko's legislation would move to establish an office of Internet Connectivity and Growth at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to coordinate and track Federal funding for broadband across every agency.

This is important because the Federal Government's grant system can oftentimes be confusing and disjointed, making it difficult for communities and organizations to find grants they may be eligible for. As a result, they may be losing out on opportunities, especially when it comes to broadband needs.

Our rural communities continue to struggle, and one area that has been proven to be a boon is access to high-speed internet. By encompassing all of these grants into one area, we can help assist communities and organizations across the country in their search for Federal grant funding.

Access to broadband is a recipe for growth, allowing people to take and create new opportunities that may not have been there before. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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