**Kuster’s full remarks are available HERE**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, participated in a Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Breaking Barriers: Streamlining Permitting to Expedite Broadband Deployment.” Kuster, a fierce proponent of increasing access to high-speed internet services, questioned witnesses on how best to deploy broadband infrastructure and improve affordability to ensure no one is left behind. 

“Access to reliable internet is essential for families across the country to connect and engage in the twenty-first-century economy,” said Kuster. “From small businesses operating online to patients using telehealth, families in rural communities across New Hampshire increasingly rely on broadband in their daily lives. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law set our country on a path to closing the digital divide. We must continue working to ensure that everyone can afford and access these critical services. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to provide additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program so that all families have the internet access they need.”

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help eligible households afford internet services. This program has connected over 17 million Americans and 28,000 Granite Staters, including 14,900 in the Second District. As a co-chair of the Rural Broadband Caucus, Rep. Kuster is a strong proponent of providing federal funding to prevent this program from lapsing. 

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