Every week, Virginia’s 1st Congressional District Progressives poses a question to the Democratic candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives (VA-01). This week’s question: “How do you plan on tackling both broadband internet connectivity for rural residents and threats to Net Neutrality?”
Fair and unfettered access to high-speed internet is critical for success in the 21st Century.
It’s hard to believe, but that simple sentence you just read is layered with complexity that spans many different levels of government. What’s even worse is that this issue has been further complicated by politicians and political candidates who use this as a selling point for their campaign without fully comprehending the law that governs digital access.
Unlike conventional broadcast media (TV and radio) which relies on the transmission of a signal through the air above our heads and is regulated by the federal government, a broadband signal relies on wiring done by private companies or municipal utilities. Therefore, the federal government views the wiring for internet access the same way it views any other utility – it’s a state issue. In Virginia, that means broadband internet is the purview of the State Corporation Commission. That’s why the Virginia General Assembly established the Broadband Infrastructure Loan Fund to help rural areas like those in the 1st District enhance their ability to provide broadband services in conjunction with providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon.
One of the strengths I bring to the table as a candidate for Congress is years of experience with the federal government and an understanding of what falls within the jurisdiction of the federal government and what is within the jurisdiction of state government. Broadband is definitely one of these areas which requires experience and understanding to achieve the result we all want as residents of the 1st District.
Once in Congress, I will work with the entire Virginia congressional delegation to ensure that block grant opportunities within the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture are pursued and won to provide more funding to Virginia’s Broadband Infrastructure Loan Fund, allowing all jurisdictions to build broadband infrastructure to even the most distant borders.
Furthermore, I will work with the Department of Transportation to make sure that any and all federal funding for highway projects come with the stipulation that broadband conduit installation be included in all new construction to further aid in the process of “wiring up” all rural areas, not only in the 1st District but the entire country. This is how we begin to eliminate the digital divide and make broadband accessible to all communities.
What Congress does have complete jurisdiction over when it comes to broadband is net neutrality and regulatory oversight with regard to commerce. It is imperative that we maintain a free and open internet. As your congresswoman, I will immediately co-sponsor legislation (the reintroduced version of what is now HR 4585 Save Net Neutrality Act) to reverse the FCC chair’s decision to end net neutrality and allow additional bandwidth charges at multiple levels. Failure to reverse this decision by the FCC and enshrine neutrality protections within our laws only hurts American democracy and is another example of government putting profits ahead of the people.