Taylor introduces bill to on rural broadband affordability
Apr. 18—WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, introduced the Bridging the Broadband Gap Act, which his office said will prioritize the affordability and expansion of broadband to rural communities through satellite and fixed-wireless broadband.
This bill will allow states to use funds from the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program to pay for 50 percent of the initial cost of a satellite or fixed wireless receiver and $30 of each monthly bill for the first year of service.
Taylor's office will additionally give service priority to counties in the bottom 50 percent of a state's per capita income.
"Through endless federal bureaucracy, the BEAD Program, which put over $42 billion toward rural broadband, has still not connected a single household to broadband and left southern Ohioans behind," Taylor said. "Fiber internet is vital but it could take years to connect all of southern Ohio, and my Bridging the Broadband Gap Act would expand broadband across rural America while the proper infrastructure is being developed. No matter what technology is used, rural Americans need internet access now and this bill will put us one step closer to connecting rural Ohio farmers, families, and businesses with the modern economy."
Specifically, this bill will amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize recipients of funds under the BEAD Program to provide broadband vouchers to households in specific locations. Since BEAD has already allocated federal funds to states, the Bridging the Broadband Gap Act would allow current funding to be used for vouchers.
Out of sixteen counties in Ohio's Second Congressional District, thirteen are among the bottom 50 percent of Ohio's lowest per capita income areas. By prioritizing services to low-income counties, the Bridging the Broadband Gap Act will transform rural families' ability to access the internet across Southern Ohio.
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The order was amended two different times in response to court challenges; eventually, a scaled-back version was upheld by the Supreme Court. To their credit, many leaders and members of the president's party were dismayed by this ban at the time. They saw it for what it was — a threat to the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. They could see it as a clear attack on the pluralism that has long guaranteed that our nation — a nation of immigrants — remains a haven for people seeking to practice their religion according to their conscience while also contributing to society. When candidate Trump first voiced his pledge to prevent Muslims from entering the U.S. in 2015, Utah Governor Herbert spoke out strongly against this idea: 'I am the governor of a state that was settled by religious exiles who withstood persecution after persecution, including an extermination order from another state's governor. In Utah, the First Amendment still matters. That will not change so long as I remain governor.' We remember both the early rhetoric of candidate Trump and the later actions of President Trump well. It was shocking and disorienting to watch his efforts to discriminate against others. It was disheartening to watch a political party descend into unchristian and uncharitable legalese, all with the aim to exclude others based solely on their faith or nationality. Mormon Women for Ethical Government was born in response to these efforts. At the outset, MWEG's founders envisioned a small group of women working together through peaceful, faithful, nonpartisan and proactive ways to counteract the unbelievable turn the government was making. But these women were not alone in their desire to take action. They were quickly joined by thousands of other women of faith who were ready to work for a more peaceful, just and ethical world. Over time, MWEG has become a strong voice in advocating for compassionate and moderating forces in government. The organization continues to attract women who want to proactively and peacefully support systems rooted in constitutional principles and the rule of law. We now have women in all 50 states engaging in the political arena as informed and principled citizens. Though much has changed since the formation of MWEG eight years ago, immigration remains a central and divisive issue. Immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers, have been victims of dehumanizing language and unfair stereotyping. The current administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport people without due process. It has detained students without cause, deported a man by mistake and refused a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return, attempted to end birthright citizenship, revoked student visas, ended temporary protected status for many, and suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). This week, President Trump signed another proclamation that bans citizens from 12 countries from entering the U.S. In comparison to eight years ago, the large-scale response has been muted or even resigned. As the world has changed and political rhetoric has become ever more extreme, have we changed with it? Do things that were once the source of personal outrage and deep concern still concern us? Has our once-strong commitment to love our neighbor as ourself weakened? And, if we cannot love them, are we at least as committed to maintaining their claim to Constitutional protections as we were eight years ago? As an organization, MWEG is committed to amplifying the best aspects of our Christian faith. That faith is rooted in a gospel of generosity. We are also committed to preserving the Constitution that, among other things, protects our ability, as members of a minority faith, to participate freely in civic life, to express our views and to practice our religion without fear of repercussions. Actions like this ban seem directed at a particular group, but they actually undermine the constitutional rights that protect all of us from government overreach. As citizens of a free nation, we can and should speak out when we see those rights being violated. In 2017, the threat was widely recognized by leaders and citizens from both parties. It is worth contemplating why this is no longer the case.
