St. Paul, MN - Today, following the passage of both the House and Senate Agriculture Budget Bills, State Representative Gene Pelowski (DFL - Winona) was asked to serve on the joint conference committee to form consensus legislation, particularly for the provisions on high-speed broadband. Rep. Gene Pelowski released the following statement:
“Broadband is the Information Highway of the 21st Century. The roads and bridges of the 19th and 20th centuries were essential for the private and public sectors to ship produce and passengers across the United States. Businesses thrived where there was a reliable transportation network. Government investment was needed to create and maintain that transportation network.
“In the 21st Century, with the added impact of the pandemic, government investment is also needed to ensure everyone has equal access to distance learning, working from home, remote medical care, business and agriculture development to compete in an international marketplace. Broadband has to be available and at equal levels everywhere in Minnesota.”