Across the country, one of our impediments to economic development has been a lack of access to fast broadband service, especially within more rural locations. Fortunately, recent investment trends are working to ensure more people have access to high-speed internet service, improving the market for products that our entrepreneurs sell and allowing more entrepreneurs to upgrade their businesses to the digital world.

In a recent example, Charter Communications was awarded $1.2 billion from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), which will be used to expand broadband infrastructure in 24 states. This is part of a larger $5 Billion commitment to expand broadband to more unserved communities, including rural. As companies like Charter invest in our communities, more of us will have access to fast internet and more of us will have the opportunity to grow our businesses.

As broadband providers continue to line up in support of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which will provide funding to help low-income families get and stay online, our communities stand to benefit a great deal as well. During these economically precarious times, we have advocated for this much-needed benefit to help keep our families and businesses connected to the world, and will continue to do so until our economy stabilizes.

A connected community will ensure a growing community for our members and their businesses. NPR Chamber will continue to support an all of the above approach to broadband – one that prioritizes adoption and affordability, continued digital skilling, and greater investment and buildout of critical broadband infrastructure. This all of the above approach will help ensure a stronger economic recovery and a bright future for small businesses.