The Pine Journal posts a letter from Senator Rarick…

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Minnesota Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee heard three bills that provide funds for the rural broadband grant program and appropriation for the programs.

I co-authored one of the bills, SF 22, which appropriates $60 million in 2022 and 2023 for the border-to-border broadband fund.

Rural Minnesota has taken the economic and educational brunt of COVID and Gov. Tim Walz’s peacetime emergency. Over the last year, we’ve learned of the growing importance of reliable internet as it continues to expand and dominate every facet of life.

The legislation allows us to close some gaps, help unserved areas and ensure more Minnesotans have access to the quality broadband they need to succeed.