{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-stefanik-introduce-bipartisan-broadband-connections-for-rural", "Reps. Pocan, Stefanik Introduce Bipartisan Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) introduced H.R. 6336 -- the bipartisan Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act to increase internet connectivity in rural communities through a combination of grants and loans. This legislation is a companion bill to one introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) earlier this fall.\n\n\u201cIn a 21st century economy, our businesses and families need access to broadband so we can compete around the globe,\u201d said Congresswoman Stefanik. \u201cThis important legislation would provide greater resources to build this infrastructure in the North Country and in rural areas across our nation. I am pleased to join Congressman Pocan to introduce this bipartisan legislation in the House, and I urge my colleagues to support this critical 21st century infrastructure project.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to reliable, high-speed internet service is vital to communities across America especially to small businesses and students,\u201d Rep. Mark Pocan said. \u201cYet, in rural areas, including parts of my district in Wisconsin, over a third of the population doesn\u2019t have access to quality broadband. The Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act will increase resources to update and expand broadband infrastructure. I\u2019m proud to work with Congresswoman Stefanik to help close the broadband gap so all communities can have a reliable connection.\u201d\n\nNationally, more than 55 million Americans lack access to advanced broadband speeds and an even greater number lack even basic connectivity. Broadband internet for rural communities serves as a crucial economic engine to generate widely shared prosperity. Therefore the push toward developing a 21st century infrastructure for America is quickly emerging as an initiative with bipartisan consensus.\n\nThis legislation helps connect rural communities by:\n\n\u2022 Allowing for grants of up to 50 percent of a project\u2019s cost, and up to 75 percent for remote, high-need areas, to be awarded in combination with the current loan funding available through USDA\u2019s Rural Utilities Service (RUS).\n\n\u2022 Combining grants with loans, the bill helps enhance the economic feasibility of projects serving rural and tribal areas.\n\n\u2022 Providing highest priority to projects that serve areas that are currently unserved by high-speed broadband.\n\n\u2022 This legislation also increases the authorized funding for RUS\u2019s Broadband programs to $50 million per fiscal year.\n\n\u2022 This proposal would provide adequate resources to private sector providers, including corporations, LLCs, cooperatives or mutual organizations, state or local government, and Indian tribes or tribal organizations to expand broadband access to unserved rural areas. Partnership projects would be given special attention including initiatives that leverage matching funds and that work with anchor institutions like health centers, colleges, universities, and other educational entities, and libraries.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:07:19Z"]], "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://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-pocan-stefanik-introduce-bipartisan-broadband-connections-for-rural"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 5.186996888369322, "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"}