Welch Announces Plan to Close the Digital Divide and Expand Broadband to All Americans

Press Release

Representative Peter Welch today joined House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and 10 other members of the Rural Broadband Task Force and Energy and Commerce Committee, to announce the House Democratic Plan to Connect All Americans to Affordable Broadband Internet. This plan--an updated and expanded version of the broadband provisions of House Democrats' Moving America Forward Framework--is the product of significant collaboration between the Rural Broadband Task Force, the Energy & Commerce Committee, and many Members of the House Democratic Caucus.

Democrats welcome recent reports that Republicans support the inclusion of broadband investment in the next coronavirus response packages. This plan will accomplish the goal of delivering affordable access to high-quality internet to all Americans.

"With millions of people required to stay home and students across the country learning from home, this pandemic has sharpened the digital divide that exists across America," said Representative Welch. "We need to act now to close this divide and connect all Americans with high-speed, affordable broadband. Our students, health care providers, business owners, and farmers need high-speed internet to survive in the modern economy. I am pleased to work with Whip Clyburn and members of the Rural Broadband Task Force to move this plan forward."

Welch is a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Rural Broadband Task Force, and is co-founder of the House Rural Broadband Caucus.

The full plan can be found here.

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