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Broadband included in COVID relief package

Broadband is targeted in the latest COVID stimulus package awaiting Congressional approval.

Minnesota Farm Bureau president Kevin Paap says access to high-speed internet was identified as a major issue during his state’s annual meeting.

“Everyone of us now understands the importance of expanding the investment to increase access to reliable broadband through that infrastructure. It was important before.”

But in the nine months since the pandemic brought about many social distancing measures, he tells Brownfield the need to invest in broadband is even more apparent.

“When you’ve got one or two parents maybe working from home, you’ve got multiple children many times learning from home, we really understood the importance of high-speed, having that width in broadband.”

Congress is said to have earmarked $7 billion to expand broadband access in the latest COVID relief bill.