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LaMalfa Prioritizes Rural Broadband in Upcoming Appropriations Package

July 20, 2020

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) recently sponsored two amendments supporting rural broadband to be included in H.R. 7608, the State, Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. The first amendment increases funding by $25 million for distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband. The second amendment requires $50 million of the $915 million for the Rural Utilities Service to be spent on rural broadband in "unserved" areas, which have no access to broadband at all.

LaMalfa said: "As our world becomes more reliant on broadband each day, many rural areas still have minimal coverage, and too many with no coverage at all. As we continue to expand the use of broadband to augment school, work, and medical needs, rural America needs to be connected much more rapidly. These amendments aim to bring more coverage to rural America, encouraging private investment and giving local economies a boost."

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