[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RURAL BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an 
issue that is incredibly important to me as a senior member of the 
House Agriculture Committee.
  My vision for the future of rural America includes rebuilding the 
communities that provide much of our food, fiber, and energy, and to 
provide support for a robust rural economy. Of course, this is 
virtually impossible without reliable, high-speed, 5G broadband 
connectivity.
  In the late 1800s, Thomas Edison created the first practical 
incandescent lightbulb. By 1925, half of all homes in the United States 
had electricity. Today, we take electricity for granted. We don't think 
twice when we flip a switch.
  As we continue to experience today's modern technical revolution, it 
is my goal to see 5G broadband just as commonplace. Twenty-four million 
Americans still do not have access to broadband, and the vast majority 
of these people live in rural areas.
  A 2017 study by the United States Department of Agriculture 
discovered that 29 percent of American farmers did not have reliable 
internet access, despite the fact that agriculture is all about 
technology today. Without reliable broadband access, we are leaving 
money on the table, and the American economy is failing to meet its 
fullest potential.

  Connectivity and competition go hand in hand, and we can continue to 
invest in rural communities with 5G. Agriculture, healthcare, energy, 
education, and so many other industries demand this level of service.
  In 2018, we ushered in a new farm bill that underscored the 
importance of broadband in rural America. Under broadband guaranteed 
lending programs, larger rural communities are permitted to build 
infrastructure for telecommunication networks.
  The farm bill also supports broadband development where it is most 
needed by prioritizing funds to rural communities that are at least 90 
percent unserved.
  We can also encourage innovation on this front through opportunity 
zones. Established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Mr. Speaker, 
opportunity zones incentivize long-term investments--private-sector 
investments--in rural, underserved, or economically distressed areas 
across the Nation through public-private partnerships.
  In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there are 300 opportunity 
zones--there are 18 congressional districts--and I am proud that 31 of 
these are in my district.
  To tackle broadband development head-on, the FCC has introduced the 
idea of gigabit opportunity zones, and the proposal has a promising 
future ahead of it. Gigabit opportunity zones are designed specifically 
to address underserved areas by incentivizing State and local 
governments to foster connectivity, ultimately streamlining 
regulations, supporting job creators, and strengthening our 
neighborhoods.
  Mr. Speaker, with continued investment in 5G broadband development, 
the future of rural America looks bright.

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