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Broadband a key issue in tomorrow’s debate in Virginia’s 1st congressional district

In the era of Zoom, teleworking, and distance learning brought on by the coronavirus, access to reliable, affordable internet has become an essential issue to Virginians. Because of the decision by multiple counties to opt to send students back to class at the start of the new school year, students, like never before, are dependent on quality internet. Qasim Rashid, a Democrat running for Congress in Virginia's 1st District, which includes Prince William and Stafford counties, recently published an op-ed in Fredericksburg's Free Lance-Star, noting his "Last Mile Broadband Plan" highlighting the need equal access to high-speed internet.

"We are still in the midst of a global pandemic and now also in the back-to-school season. That means we must do everything we can to keep our communities safe,” Rashid wrote.

“We need to treat broadband like a utility and streamline the current hodge-podge of government programs in place aimed at providing broadband to the last mile. On my first day in office, I would propose legislation to establish a Rural Broadband Expansion Authority with the power to manage every U.S. government grant or subsidy program.”

However, Rashid's opponent, incumbent Congressman Rob Wittman, suggests that Rashid's plan is nothing new. Wittman has been working to expand broadband for more than 20 years.

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