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Mayor Hamilton Joins 65 Mayors and City Officials on Letter to the President and Congress Signaling the Importance of Broadband

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2017

For more information, please contact: Rick Dietz, Director of Information Technology Services, 812-349-3485, dietzr@bloomington.in.gov

Mayor Hamilton Joins 65 Mayors and City Officials on Letter to the President and Congress Signaling the Importance of Broadband Infrastructure

Bloomington, Ind. - Mayor John Hamilton has emphasized the importance of including broadband in any plan to improve the country's infrastructure in a letter sent to President Trump, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, and House Speaker Ryan. In signing the letter, Mayor Hamilton joined 65 elected officials from across the nation to demonstrate widespread support at the community level for the deployment of high-speed, reliable internet access as federal discussions continue about a national infrastructure plan.

"As we continue the process of bringing Gigabit-class fiber optic broadband to Bloomington, I am proud to be a part of this national commitment to the importance of broadband infrastructure nationwide," said Mayor Hamilton. "Bloomington stands with other communities in our nation that place importance on citywide and open access broadband, and it is imperative that this be considered in potential infrastructure legislation."

Including Bloomington, the 65 signers of the letter together represent nearly 16 million Americans. The letter was led by [Next Century Cities|http://nextcenturycities.org], a bipartisan organization of mayors and city leaders focused on ensuring fast, affordable, and reliable internet access for all Americans. [See the full letter here|http://nextcenturycities.org/2017/03/01/over-60-mayors-and-municipal-leaders-send-letter-calling-on-congress-to-include-broadband-in-infrastructure-plans/].

"As mayors and municipal officials, we have each championed access for our residents to high-quality broadband in ways that are right for our communities," the letter states. "We are eager to have the federal government take steps in an infrastructure package that will truly increase internet access for millions of Americans, and do so in ways that recognize the importance of local leaders in making these lofty plans a reality in our towns and cities across America."

The letter recommends three key broadband priorities for any federal infrastructure plan: access, affordability, and local solutions for connectivity. It also emphasizes that the internet is nonpartisan, and that federal leaders should work together across party lines to promote the deployment of next-generation broadband.

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