Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) welcomed Ajit Pai, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to a press conference at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, to discuss the results of a roundtable discussion on rural telecommunications.
“I was proud to welcome Commissioner Pai to Omaha today and showcase the impressive work we are accomplishing in Nebraska,” said Fischer, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee. “We discussed telecommunications policies affecting our broadcasters and the challenges connecting broadband to our cities and our communities across the state.”
At the roundtable,
leaders talked about the growing need to make Internet access and
broadband deployment a nationwide priority.
“We heard from businesses across Nebraska who want to deploy more broadband but are held back due to regulatory uncertainty,” Fischer said. “We heard from broadcasters who provide important information across our state regarding the challenges they continue to face. I commend Commissioner Pai for laying out a concrete plan of action, and look forward to working with him and his colleagues as we look to foster sound policies for the American people.”
The discussion was
centered around the methodology the federal government can utilize to
unleash and encourage high-tech innovation across the U.S.
“Senator Fischer has been a strong and eloquent voice on the importance of broadband, especially in rural areas,” said Pai, who was nominated for the FCC position by President Obama in 2012. “That’s why I was so eager to accept her invitation to visit Nebraska. We’ve had a chance to meet with companies that are bringing high-speed Internet access to all of Nebraska, from Omaha to counties with less than one person per square mile. My hope is that with the senator’s leadership and the bipartisan support of many in Washington, Nebraska, and beyond, we can give rural Americans all the opportunities made possible by the broadband revolution.”