In Reno, Nevada, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) held a roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and local community leaders to discuss the improvement and expansion of broadband access across the state. The discussion was attended by representatives from Zayo, a company specializing in communications infrastructure, which will construct over 800 miles of fiber network in Nevada.
Senator Rosen emphasized her legislation that created the Middle Mile Broadband program, which has provided millions in funding to increase high-speed internet access in Nevada. She stated, “Reliable high-speed internet access is an everyday necessity for Nevadans, and that’s why I worked across the aisle to pass my legislation to deliver the federal funding needed to connect more families to the internet.”
Secretary Raimondo praised Senator Rosen’s efforts, stating, “Thanks to President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Senator Rosen’s leadership, we are making the biggest ever investment in affordable, reliable high-speed internet to help us finally close the digital divide in Nevada and across the country once and for all.” She also highlighted Nevada’s status as the first state to receive a Digital Equity Capacity grant to promote digital inclusion and ensure all communities have access to broadband.
Bill Long, Chief Product & Strategy Officer at Zayo, expressed the company’s gratitude for collaborating with Senator Rosen and Secretary Raimondo in addressing the digital divide in Nevada. He stated that the company’s efforts, along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure funds, will not only lay fiber but also pave the way for economic revitalization and improved opportunities in education, healthcare, and business.
Senator Rosen has been a leading advocate for lowering costs and expanding high-speed internet access. This year, she announced that funding from her Middle Mile Broadband Deployment Act would be used to establish Nevada’s Middle Mile Network and support 2,500 miles of fiber optic network. She also helped introduce the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act and successfully pressed the Federal Communications Commission to fix their broadband maps, resulting in over $416 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s BEAD Program coming to Nevada to connect families to high-speed internet. Rosen was also a leading author of the broadband section of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
