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 provi-
sions 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 de-
pendency on both remote and digital communication in 
schools, businesses, government agencies, healthcare fa-
cilities, 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 farm-
ers, and innovation on farms and in other rural settings 
is severely hampered if these locations lack access to ro-
bust broadband; 
Whereas a gap currently persists among rural and urban 
communities with respect to delivering high-speed and re-
liable 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 Ameri-
cans 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 ever- 
growing demand; 
Whereas the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy should establish a broadband research and devel-
opment working group to address national research chal-
lenges and opportunities for improving broadband access 
and adoption across the United States; and 
Whereas one of the most vital needs for our country is mod-
ern and durable infrastructure, which includes strong and 
robust broadband: Now, therefore, be it 
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•HRES 317 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives finds 
that— 
(1) the Federal Communications Commission 
should study the current and projected demands on 
rural broadband networks associated with services 
offered by large companies that provide content 
streaming services; 
(2) in order to expand rural broadband assist-
ance and to improve the administration and account-
ability of the broadband programs at the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, there should be codification of 
programs such as the ReConnect Loan and Grant 
Program; and 
(3) access to broadband in the United States is 
in critical need of improvement, particularly as it af-
fects Americans located in rural communities who 
continue to struggle to stay connected in an increas-
ingly remote and digitally dependent world. 
Æ 
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