Stefanik bill would bring broadband to high-need rural areas

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) last week introduced bipartisan legislation to bring broadband telecommunications access to underserved rural communities.

The Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act would amend the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to provide grants for broadband telecommunications service in underserved tribal communities or rural areas such as Stefanik’s far-flung district comprising New York State’s North Country, including the Adirondack Mountains.

“Broadband is critical infrastructure in a 21st century economy so that our North Country businesses can compete around the globe,” said Stefanik. “Broadband access is also important to ensuring our children have access to the educational resources they need to succeed. This important legislation would provide greater resources to build this 21st Century infrastructure in the North Country and in rural areas across our nation.”

H.R. 4232 would target federal grant funds to highest-need areas and enable students to expand their learning experience, facilitate information-economy job development, and keep rural businesses and farms in touch with suppliers and markets, Stefanik’s office said. Rural health care delivery would be advanced through the improved technology broadband service access affords.

Stefanik introduced the bill along with U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Hal Rogers (R-KY).

In July, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Stefanik’s New York colleague Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, introduced a Senate companion bill, S. 1676.