Trusty: FCC's Build Agenda Means 'Closing the Digital Divide, for Good'
The FCC’s "Build America Agenda," outlined by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last month (see 2507020036), will mean faster broadband deployment, Commissioner Olivia Trusty said in a speech Wednesday in Mississippi. She spoke at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, noting that faster broadband is key to telehealth.
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The agency's focus on speeding deployment “means closing the digital divide, for good,” Trusty said. “By the end of this summer, the FCC will have taken action to speed up rural broadband buildout, replace outdated copper networks with fiber, and remove federal red tape that slows down investment in places that need it most.” She noted that the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi is already pushing forward “12 new broadband projects, many in hard-to-reach communities."
Trusty emphasized the importance of Congress restoring the FCC’s general auction authority. The agency is ready to bring 800 MHz of “prime spectrum to market,” she said. “More spectrum means better coverage in places where bars on your phone are still hit or miss. It means a boost for entrepreneurs … trying to run businesses online. And it means we can keep our national security and economic edge, especially in the face of growing international competition.”