MinnPost posts a column from Betsy Huber of president of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, encouraging US Representatives to move forward with broadband funding…

Families across America's heartland have had a difficult year and a half. The COVID-19 pandemic, the economic troubles it caused, and an ongoing labor shortage have made it more difficult than ever for America's hardworking families in rural and agricultural communities to unlock the full potential of our modern economy.

This is especially true for those communities that disproportionately lack access to affordable and reliable broadband internet. To secure a future of prosperity for America's rural communities, we need to completely bridge the digital divide and ensure every American has access to the digital technologies that support success in our modern world.

Substantial positive investments toward achieving the national goal of bridging the digital divide through broadband deployment, financial support for broadband service and digital skills training were included in the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Investment Act recently passed by the U.S. Senate. Now, America's rural communities are counting on the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly pass this package, including the $65 billion down payment on closing the broadband gap.

The broadband investments included in the bipartisan infrastructure package and additional permanent solutions are urgently needed.

She appeals to MN legislators…

We encourage House lawmakers, including Reps. Jim Hagedorn, Angie Craig, Dean Phillips, Betty McCollum, Ilhan Omar, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach and Pete Stauber, to swiftly pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and then build on the positive momentum for action by advancing additional solutions, like ensuring financial support for broadband is enough for families in every community to afford service.

Every American community, especially those in the heartland, is counting on their leadership to bridge the digital divide.