Press Release
December 8, 2020
Contact: Jon Conradi
[email protected]

Coalition Encourages Newly Confirmed FCC Commissioner to Protect and Build on Recent Positive Progress to Expand Connectivity

Washington, D.C. – Connect Americans Now (CAN) executive director Richard T. Cullen reacted Tuesday to the confirmation of Nathan Simington as a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by the U.S. Senate.

“The FCC plays a critical role in implementing policies to bridge the digital divide and Connect Americans Now looks forward to working with Mr. Simington to eliminate the broadband gap for every American,” Cullen said. “The pandemic has exacerbated the impact of the digital divide on millions of unserved and underserved Americans, increasing the urgency for policymakers in Washington to tackle this challenge as a top priority.”

“The FCC has taken commendable steps in recent years to clear regulatory barriers to innovative solutions, like TV white space (TVWS), maximize spectrum resources for broadband use and administer funding to expand connectivity,” Cullen continued. “It will be critical for members of the Commission to protect and build on this positive progress to completely and swiftly eliminate the digital divide for every American.”

CAN is a coalition of more than 275 leading organizations and companies representing voices for agriculture, health care, education, small business, technology, veterans, rural advocacy and more – committed to completely and swiftly eliminating the digital divide in America by supporting a mixed-technology approach that leverages the full potential of every tool at the nation’s disposal.

Read a letter from CAN to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation with key questions for Simington on broadband and the digital divide before his confirmation HERE.

Read more on CAN’s mission and coalition HERE.

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