Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an updated version of their National Broadband Map that will ensure Nevada receives more federal funding from the $42.5 billion in broadband grants she pushed for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Senators Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) pushed the FCC to update their map after the previous version of the map missed over 7,000 locations in Nevada without access to high-speed internet services, which could have caused the state to lose out on millions in federal funding.
“Nevada was at risk of being shortchanged when it came to federal broadband grants, and I pushed the FCC to improve its processes and ensure that the Silver State receives more critical federal funding,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll continue to call for transparency and oversight of these critical programs to make sure investments to expand internet access are getting to the communities who need them most.”
As part of her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has led in the Senate to improve broadband access and strengthen Nevada’s economy. She’s called for increased accountability for federal broadband programs through efforts like the FCC broadband availability map. Most recently, she pushed for greater transparency and tracking of federal broadband funding through her bipartisan mapping tool she created in her ACCESS Broadband Act legislation. The Senator’s efforts have helped provide funding to Nevada, including more than $11 million for Nevada tribes, $27 million for Lovelock, NV and $7.3 million for Elko County residents.
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