Carr Visits Pacific Northwest with Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Rodgers

Focus on Rural Connectivity, 5G, Telehealth, and Advanced Manufacturing Jobs

SEATTLE, June 30, 2021—This week, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr is visiting the Pacific Northwest, including stops in eastern Washington with Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers as well as events in Oregon and Idaho.  The trip will focus on the FCC’s efforts to promote rural connectivity, 5G, and telehealth.

Today, Carr will visit high-tech manufacturing facilities in Seattle where next-generation satellites and commercial aircraft are being constructed to discuss the connectivity needs of and opportunities provided by these advanced operations.  Carr will then meet with a tower crew near Mt. Rainer National Park to discuss workforce development as well as the unique challenges of constructing communications facilities in remote parts of the Pacific Northwest.  Later that evening, Carr will visit a 911 call center in northern Oregon.

Tomorrow, Carr will join a small, fixed wireless provider in northern Idaho to discuss the ongoing work to connect rural communities plus the importance of collaboration between federal and state broadband initiatives.  Carr will then visit a mining operation that is using IoT devices to improve the safety and efficiency of their operations.  After that, Carr will travel south to the Coeur d’Alene reservation where he will meet with a Tribal broadband provider who is actively deploying high-speed service for Tribal residents.  Carr will continue traveling south to meet with other small, rural providers actively building out high-speed connections in remote parts of Idaho.  Carr will be joined on some of these visits by Tom Kealey, Director of Commerce for the state of Idaho.  Director Kealey is responsible for overseeing economic development for the state, including broadband expansion. 

On Friday, Carr will join Leader Rodgers in eastern Washington where they will first visit a health care provider that has utilized FCC funding to expand their telehealth offerings during COVID-19.  Next, Carr and Rodgers will visit a wireless broadband project that will enable new 5G service to go live in Spokane.  They will then tour a local mobile equipment manufacturer before meeting with a diverse group of leaders from across eastern Washington to discuss broadband expansion, jobs, and economic growth.  Carr and Rodgers will then travel south to a family-owned wheat farm powered by precision agriculture and will end the day with a visit to a manufacturer of high-tech communications networks equipment.

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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr
Media Contact:  Greg Watson
(202) 418-0658 or greg.watson@fcc.gov