{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-announces-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-strengthen-high-speed", "Davids Announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Strengthen High-Speed Internet Across Kansas", "2023-06-16", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", "davids", "https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded Kansas with $42.5 million in bipartisan infrastructure law funding to expand middle mile high-speed internet across the state, including in all five counties in Kansas\u2019 Third Congressional District. Davids, who was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bipartisan infrastructure law, and Representative Jake LaTurner (KS-02) advocated for this funding to come to Kansas.\n\n\"The internet is used to access crucial resources such as employment opportunities, business software capabilities, virtual learning, and health care,\" said Davids. \"This new federal investment will help close the digital gap and keep our communities connected \u2013 particularly those who have not had access to high-speed internet in the past. I am proud to have voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law that continues to make a positive impact on the lives of Kansas families.\"\n\nMiddle mile internet infrastructure carries large amounts of data over long distances, boosts network resiliency, lowers the cost of internet service for unconnected households, and increases access to high-speed internet for rural and unserved regions of Kansas. Kansas state officials are working with private and non-profit partners to create a 682-mile open-access middle-mile network, with plans to connect multiple new internet exchange points throughout the state.\n\nImage\n\nMap of Kansas\u2019 middle mile partnership project to expand access to high-speed internet.\n\n\"Every day, my administration works to deliver high-speed internet to more Kansas families and businesses,\" said Governor Laura Kelly. \"That\u2019s why I supported our application for this grant that will set up the infrastructure needed to reach 27,000 more homes and provide opportunities for economic success across the state.\"\n\n\u201cAn open access middle mile network is crucial to Kansas\u2019 ability to bring affordable, high-speed broadband to underserved residents and businesses,\u201d said Jade Piros de Carvalho, Director of Broadband Development, Kansas Department of Commerce. \u201cThe Kansas Office of Broadband Development is grateful for Representative Davids\u2019 support for the legislation that funded this opportunity and for her support of internet for all.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan infrastructure law, which is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings, has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. To date, Kansas has also received $5 million through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD) to help provide access to high-speed internet across the state. Also, about 85,000 households in Kansas are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program, which ensures families can afford broadband needed for work, school, health care.\n\nBackground\n\nThe purpose of Kansas\u2019 internet expansion project is to connect to multiple new internet points throughout the state. The proposed route will support smaller internet service providers in rural and unserved areas, helping them to provide high-speed internet service to more households. The award also moves Kansas closer to high-speed internet access for all, with download speeds optimal for a 21st century society.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-announces-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-strengthen-high-speed"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0123560205101967, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}