Media Contact: Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536 tina.pelkey@fcc.gov For Immediate Release WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT FCC’S CONNECT AMERICA FUND AUCTION TO PROVIDE $1.488 BILLION FOR RURAL BROADBAND Sen. Roy Blunt (MO): “Making sure rural Missourians have access to broadband will improve the quality of life and enhance economic opportunities, whether it’s a farmer utilizing precision agriculture, a doctor treating patients through telemedicine, or a student studying for final exams. I’m proud to support this program, and I’ll continue working to ensure every farmer, student, and business in rural Missouri has access to high-speed internet.” (Blunt-Backed FCC Program to Invest $255 Million to Expand Broadband in Rural Missouri, Press Release, 8/28/18) Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV): “Good news from @FCC yesterday that will lead to better connectivity in #WV. Will continue working through #CapitoConnect and other efforts to ensure accountability throughout this process and bring us even closer to closing the digital divide in our state.” (Tweet, 8/29/18) Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (NV): “The announcement that the FCC will allocate over $1.4 billion to communities across America—including over $29 million to Nevada—to expand broadband services is terrific news. I look forward to continue working with the FCC to make sure every person in the state of Nevada has high-speed, affordable internet.” (Cortez Masto Applauds Over $29 Million To Expand Broadband Services In Nevada, Press Release, 8/30/18) Sen. John Hoeven (ND): “Broadband services are a central part of modern life. These funds will help expand broadband coverage in our state and will ensure residents in the newly served areas can access a wider variety of health care, education and commerce options. This comes as part of our continued efforts to support rural broadband development and make sure North Dakotans can continue to compete in the global economy.” (Hoeven: FCC Awards More Than $7.2 Million for Expanded Broadband Services in North Dakota, Press Release, 8/31/18) Sen. Joe Manchin (WV): “This investment in our broadband infrastructure is desperately needed and a welcomed addition to our ongoing efforts to connect the entire Mountain State. Our goal is that children in every county can do homework from home and every small business owner can promote their products to the globe.” (Manchin Announces Nearly $12 Million For Broadband Development In West Virginia, Press Release, 8/28/18) Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO): “[T]his is an important step toward connecting rural communities throughout Missouri with high-speed broadband—a service that is only becoming more and more necessary for small businesses, farmers, healthcare providers, students and schools.” (Nearly $255 Million Awarded to Missouri for Rural Broadband—McCaskill Statement, Press Release, 8/28/18) Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN): “Great to see @FCC continue helping us close the #digitaldivide. Several TN providers won grants such as @BLConnect, @HolstonConnect & Meriwether Lewis Connect - thank you for your work in ensuring Tennesseans can participate in the 21st century economy no matter where they live.” (Tweet, 8/30/18) Rep. Sam Graves (MO): “Being connected to high-speed broadband will improve our communities in North Missouri by giving us better access to educational resources, telehealth services, precision agriculture, and additional opportunities for economic development. I have been a proud supporter of the FCC’s Connect America Fund and continually worked to ensure they target areas that need the resources most.” (Graves Applauds FCC’s Rural Broadband Auction Awarding Missouri, Press Release, 8/29/18) Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO): “This announcement helps ensure that a majority of counties within Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District will receive federal aid to help with the deployment of high-speed broadband internet service. Rural Missouri towns need high-speed internet to attract even more high-paying jobs and to aid in their children’s education. With over half of rural Missourians lacking access to this vital resource, it’s time to level the playing field.” (Hartzler Supports FCC Broadband Funding in Rural Missouri, Press Release, 8/31/18) Rep. Bob Latta (OH): “As Co-Chair of the Rural Broadband Caucus, it’s great to see 1.7 mil Americans in rural areas will gain access to broadband after the recent @FCC auction. Broadband access is critical to bridging the ‘Digital Divide.’” (Tweet, 8/30/18) Rep. David B. McKinley (WV): “Excellent news from the @FCC that will benefit West Virginia immensely! twitter.com/wvgazettemail/ . . .” (Tweet, 8/29/18) Rep. Jason Smith (MO): “Big news for rural Missouri homes and businesses: @AjitPaiFCC just announced 95,000 houses and farms in Missouri stand to gain access to high-speed internet for the first time.” (Tweet, 9/2/18) Rep. Greg Walden (OR): “These resources are crucial to help make sure all Oregonians can participate in the 21st century economy regardless of where they live. … This funding will further our efforts to close this digital divide in Oregon, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside Chairman Pai and my colleagues in Congress to ensure all Americans are connected to high speed broadband.” (Greg Walden Applauds Support For Broadband Expansion In Rural Oregon, Press Release, 8/30/18) Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR): “These areas in rural America where homes can’t get it, where small businesses can’t get rural broadband, it really puts us at a disadvantage. So that’s why I’m glad to see programs like the Connect America Fund.” (Broadband Internet Access Will Soon Be Coming To Rural Areas In Arkansas, 5 News Online, 9/4/18) Consumer Affairs: “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is on the verge of making one of its largest plays ever—a decade-long goal of investing in broadband in rural America to help 700,000 homes and businesses bridge the broadband divide. . . . The importance of having high-speed internet access leaves little doubt that the Commission’s move is spot-on.” (FCC Ready To Make A Giant Broadband Investment In Rural America, Consumer Affairs, 8/29/18) Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch Editorial: “Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced that three internet companies will receive about $12 million combined in federal funding to provide broadband access to West Virginia communities lacking it. The money comes from the FCC’s Connect America Fund Phase II auction, and will go toward expanding internet access in 7,962 locations, sorted by census blocks, throughout West Virginia . . . . That’s good news for many areas in the state . . . .” (Editorial: Wider Broadband Access Is Good News For The State, 9/2/18) GeoLinks Co-Founder and CEO Skyler Ditchfield: “With this promise of capital from the FCC, GeoLinks will be able to further expand our network into rural areas of both California and Nevada, ultimately providing more than 11,000 rural locations with Internet at 100 megabits per second. We are excited that this new infrastructure will also reduce the cost of bringing high speed broadband access to anchor institutions such as Schools, Libraries, Hospitals, and Community Colleges.” (California Internet, L.P. DBA GeoLinks Awarded $87.8M To Expand Rural Internet In California And Nevada, Press Release, 8/29/18) National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson: “Today’s auction results highlight the power of cooperative partnerships and collaboration as electric co-ops work to bring broadband to unserved communities in rural America. We thank the FCC for allowing electric co-ops to participate in this auction, and look forward to building on this success moving forward. We are committed to continuing the rural broadband conversation and working with policymakers at the federal, state and local level on technology and funding solutions that will enrich the lives of rural American families and businesses.” (FCC Approves $225 million for 35 Electric Cooperatives to Provide Rural Broadband, Press Release, 8/28/18) Missouri Chamber of Commerce Vice President Karen Buschmann: “This is a great way to reach those communities and provide a service that has become essential. . . . When businesses are researching where to bring new jobs, broadband is as important as electricity, gas and other utilities.” (Missouri Is Biggest Beneficiary In FCC's Rural Broadband Auction, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/28/18) HolstonConnect General Manager Jimmy Sandlin: “Capital provided through grants enables HolstonConnect to speed up construction and access to the rural residents of Holston Electric Cooperative.” (HolstonConnect Winner Of Connect America Funding To Provide Rural Broadband, Press Release, 8/29/18) Windsor, Massachusetts Select Board Member Doug McNally (leading his town’s broadband project): “This might be a lifesaver . . . It’s making it a lot more palatable for some of the people who don’t value internet access.” (FCC Grant To Boost Broadband; $2.4M In Aid To Bolster 6 Berkshire Towns’ Efforts, The Berkshire Eagle [Pittsfield, Massachusetts], 9/3/18) Aristotle President Elizabeth Bowles: “This award will facilitate more rapid deployment of broadband into areas such as the Arkansas Delta that have historically been overlooked by phone companies and large broadband providers.” (Aristotle Wins $12.2M To Deploy Broadband In Rural Areas, Arkansas Business Journal, 9/5/18) Citynet’s Senior Vice President Of Business Development And External Affairs Chris Morris: “These funds, accompanied with our own private investment, will result in broadband being delivered at gigabit speeds to some of the most remote and rural areas in the state. We look forward to completing the FCC review process so that we can get started building fiber into these areas.” (About $12 Million Allocated By FCC To Boost Broadband Access In WV, Charleston Gazette-Mail, 8/28/18) ### Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-1000 Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).