Congressman Cleaver Urges FCC Chair to Help Close Rural Digital Divide and Prioritize Broadband Access for Rural Residents

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cleaver sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler, urging him to structure the upcoming Connect America Fund Phase II reverse auction for broadband access so that funding is made available on a priority basis for fiber to the home networks. Approximately $400 million in funding for broadband in the State of Missouri will be awarded to broadband providers in a reverse auction that is expected to take place in 2016. 

"There is a rural digital divide in our country and the gap should not be narrowed with satellite or unlicensed fixed-wireless networks," said Congressman Cleaver. "This is a once in a decade opportunity for Missouri to bring ultra-fast fiber to rural residents, especially in areas where large private companies have declined their right of first refusal to accept model-based support. Satellite or fixed-wireless access will not meet the needs of our rural residents, either now or in the future."

Broadband services that are available in rural areas are not reasonably comparable to those offered in urban areas. Roughly 10% of the rural population in the country has wireline upload speeds of 10 Mbps or greater, as compared with 53% in the urban areas. Many of Missouri's Electric Cooperatives are ready to fill this digital divide with future-proof fiber optic networks that will increase rural download speeds so businesses can thrive and compete.

Five Missouri Electric Cooperatives are actively deploying fiber to the home (FTTH) networks today, proving this is possible in rural areas. More cooperatives are expressing interest in deploying broadband, and accessing the CAF auction funds. Missouri Electric Cooperatives together own over 15,000 miles of fiber optic networks and have the technical and financial qualifications to bring broadband to all rural areas in Missouri. Giving Missouri a chance to lead the country with FTTH networks will ensure the viability of communities through education, access to government services, job opportunities, and business attraction.

Rural Missouri's future economic growth potential depends on this auction being structured correctly. The FCC has a chance to be forward thinking and help to bridge the digital divide in rural areas of Missouri with fiber optic networks. Missouri's rural fiber networks will be the example for how the rest of the country can narrow the digital divide fairly.

Full text of the Congressman's letter is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.

For more information please contact John Jones – john.h.jones@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-4535.