Wicker Connecting Mississippians to broadband

By Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

Wicker Staffer Confirmed for FCC

Mississippi recently hosted Commissioner Olivia Trusty, the newest member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC is the federal government agency created to oversee American communications systems by protecting consumers and fostering competition. I joined Ms. Trusty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to discuss broadband and telecommunications, including the need to connect more rural areas to telehealth services.

Before she joined the FCC, Ms. Trusty worked on my staff in the U.S. Senate. She was an integral part of the team I built to help bring full broadband coverage to Mississippi, and she advised me on legislation that has already benefited the state. Ms. Trusty is a top-notch professional, was a decorated NCAA gymnast, and is dedicated to her faith. The U.S. Senate recently confirmed her in a bipartisan vote.

Our country needs more people like her, who is not only qualified but also willing to serve the American people. The visit to UMMC was Commissioner Trusty’s first trip since assuming office, which I take as sign that her positive influence on Mississippi will continue.

Trump Can Finish Biden’s Broadband Job

Internet coverage has improved across the state, but we are poised to make even more rapid progress. In 2021, Congress passed the largest broadband funding bill in U.S. history. During the drafting of the legislation, I insisted the program invest enough to close the digital divide for America’s small towns and rural populations. Mississippi received $1.2 billion of those funds, which will provide a historic boost to our connectivity.

Congress established clear goals for this broadband funding: buildout and accurate mapping. But after President Biden signed it into law, his officials piled on burdensome regulations that effectively blocked broadband deployment. They added union labor requirements and “green” rules. The former president showed a clear preference for government-owned networks, reducing incentives for the private industry that has brought internet to millions of Americans.

As regulations increased, progress ground to a halt. Despite Congress’ funding, President Biden left office without connecting a single additional home to broadband. The Trump administration has a chance to succeed where its predecessor failed. This summer, I wrote to the president, encouraging him to remove the regulations shackling Mississippi’s broadband funding. Already, his officials have begun rolling back those restrictions, a sign that deployment could begin soon.

Congress Can Extend Telehealth Permanently

By successfully building out our broadband networks, we will help advance another priority of mine: making telehealth available in every corner of Mississippi. Many medical appointments can be conducted virtually. Residents of rural communities should have that option, which can cut driving times and allow them to meet the best provider for their needs.

In 2016, I introduced a bill that would have added telehealth to Medicare coverage, making it easier for senior citizens and those with disabilities to access the service. The pandemic opened many peoples’ eyes to the value of this option. In 2020, Congress temporarily included telehealth coverage in Medicare plans. Two more times since then, we have temporarily extended the coverage. At the end of this fiscal year, the coverage is again set to expire, unless Congress acts.

I lead a group of bipartisan lawmakers advocating for telehealth legislation, and we have been working to codify permanent Medicare coverage for telehealth. I am reluctantly willing to support another short-term extension. Certainty would lead to better outcomes for all involved. This would give stability to patients, many of whom live far from providers, assist health centers, who could serve more people, and show the health care industry that telehealth is here to stay.

This column is the weekly Wicker Report from U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, who is solely responsible for its content.