Feenstra Leads Legislation to Expand High-Speed Broadband in Rural Iowa

HULL, IOWA – Last week, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) and Rep. Josh Riley (D-NY) introduced the Middle Mile for Rural America Act, which would reauthorize the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure program and help connect rural communities to high-speed internet.

“Expanding access to high-speed broadband is critical for economic growth and community development in rural Iowa. Reliable internet connection helps our businesses on Main Street grow, our farmers monitor market fluctuations and commodity prices in real time, and our families stay connected to the world. We must do everything possible to invest in the necessary infrastructure to deliver state-of-the-art broadband to every rural community,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I introduced legislation to reauthorize the Middle Mile program to ensure that broadband providers can connect homes, farms, and businesses to the internet as efficiently as possible. Rural Iowa deserves reliable, affordable access to high-speed broadband, and this bill will help close the digital divide between rural communities and urban centers.”

“Access to middle-mile infrastructure is critical to connecting rural communities with quality high-speed internet. Strong middle-mile networks can lower costs and enable faster, more reliable service for families, schools, and businesses. NRECA commends Representatives Feenstra and Riley on the introduction of the Middle Mile for Rural America Act and their recognition of the essential role of broadband in rural America,” said Louis Finkel, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA).

Rural communities often are stuck in between areas of high-speed internet access, and lack the infrastructure needed to connect to service providers. The Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure program provides funding for the expansion and extension of middle mile infrastructure across the country. Expanding access to middle mile infrastructure can increase the resiliency of internet infrastructure and reduce the costs of connecting unserved and underserved areas across the country.

This legislation is additionally endorsed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

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