IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 317 

Recognizing the importance of broadband in rural areas throughout the 

United States and the critical need to invest in broadband expansion 

in an increasingly remote and digitally dependent world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 24, 2023 

Mr. BAIRD (for himself and Mr. CUELLAR) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 

addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of broadband in rural areas 

throughout the United States and the critical need to 

invest in broadband expansion in an increasingly remote 

and digitally dependent world. 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic and the resulting public 

health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health 

and Human Services in 2020 led to an increase in dependency on both remote and digital communication in 

schools, businesses, government agencies, healthcare facilities, and places of work, making access to reliable 

high-speed internet essential for many Americans, more 

than ever before; 


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•HRES 317 IH 

Whereas technology is transforming the agriculture industry 

and changing the way farms operate, and such advances 

are largely dependent on maintaining strong internet 

connectivity in rural communities; 

Whereas consistent internet connectivity is essential for farmers, and innovation on farms and in other rural settings 

is severely hampered if these locations lack access to robust broadband; 

Whereas a gap currently persists among rural and urban 

communities with respect to delivering high-speed and reliable broadband to all Americans, despite the growth in, 

and increasing normality of, remote work and digital 

communication since 2020; 

Whereas high-quality internet access is essential for Americans to work, learn, and communicate with one another 

and it is therefore important that broadband access in 

underserved communities be improved and maintained; 

Whereas approximately 60 percent of broadband capacity is 

used by large companies that provide content streaming 

services, and rural broadband providers have difficulty in 

raising prices to cover the costs associated with this evergrowing demand; 

Whereas the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 

Policy should establish a broadband research and development working group to address national research challenges and opportunities for improving broadband access 

and adoption across the United States; and 

Whereas one of the most vital needs for our country is modern and durable infrastructure, which includes strong and 

robust broadband: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 317 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives finds 

2 that— 

3 (1) the Federal Communications Commission 

4 should study the current and projected demands on 

5 rural broadband networks associated with services 

6 offered by large companies that provide content 

7 streaming services; 

8 (2) in order to expand rural broadband assist9 ance and to improve the administration and account10 ability of the broadband programs at the Depart11 ment of Agriculture, there should be codification of 

12 programs such as the ReConnect Loan and Grant 

13 Program; and 

14 (3) access to broadband in the United States is 

15 in critical need of improvement, particularly as it af16 fects Americans located in rural communities who 

17 continue to struggle to stay connected in an increas18 ingly remote and digitally dependent world. 

Æ 


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