Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has joined 38 other state and territory attorneys general in sending a letter to Congress urging to protect rural broadband access as a part of COVID-19 relief legislation. The letter asks Congress to provide funding to state and local governments, as well as the U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to address disparities in access to home internet connectivity.

Schmidt said protecting internet connectivity is especially important in a time when many are using the service to participate in medicine, schooling, and work from home or elsewhere.

Schmidt and the other attorneys general are urging Congress to provide funding that is dedicated to ensuring that all students and medical patients, especially senior citizens who are at risk, have adequate internet-enabled technology to participate equally in online learning and telemedicine. They are also seeking increased funding to the FCC Universal Service Fund, which provides vital funding to rural and low-income populations, healthcare providers and educators with the goal of bridging the digital divide.