BAKERSFIELD, CA -Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) hosted members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Western Caucus for a field hearing on the state of rural broadband in America. Members heard testimony from local service providers on various federal programs that help keep Central Valley families connected to high-speed, reliable internet.

“Internet connectivity is a necessity for nearly everything – from healthcare, work, school, and even modern farming applications,” said Congressman Valadao. “As we continue to rely on the internet for so many parts of our daily lives, ensuring rural and lower-income communities stay connected is one of my top priorities. Thank you to my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee and Western Caucus for coming out to Bakersfield for this very timely and important hearing.”

Background:

According to the Federal Communications Commission, it’s estimated that 19 million Americans still don’t have access to fixed broadband service. This problem is worse in rural areas, where nearly one-fourth of the population lacks access to reliable broadband.

In March, Congressman Valadao joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to Congressional Leadership urging them to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Nearly 3 million Californians enrolled in the ACP, a federal program that ensures Americans in rural and underserved communities who can access broadband are able to afford it.

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