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FCC commissioner visits South Dakota, says all families deserve high-speed internet

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, left, talks with U.S. Sen. John Thune on Wednesday in Sioux Falls.
Jordyn Henderson
/
SDPB
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, left, talks with U.S. Sen. John Thune on Wednesday in Sioux Falls.

A top federal official said Wednesday in South Dakota that all families should have access to high internet speeds for telehealth, education, work and entertainment.

Brendan Carr, a commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission, joined U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, for a roundtable discussion in Sioux Falls focusing on telecommunications.

Carr said his goal is for everyone to have access to high download speeds across the state and the country, and he praised South Dakota's progress toward that goal.

“What we are seeing in South Dakota is really a model for the country. We are making tremendous progress bringing people across the digital divide," Carr said.

The point of the roundtable was to point out issues and problems while also finding solutions. Carr said it went well.

"One of the things highlighted at today’s event are the challenges that remain. We have a lot of funding that’s available for broadband infrastructure buildout," Carr said. "But on the policy side we need to focus on the unserved communities. We’ve got a lot of supply chain challenges right now, inflation challenges right now, workforce shortages, and so we have to put a comprehensive plan in place, not just throw dollars at this problem.”

The roundtable consisted of representatives from SDN Communications, Kennebec Telephone Company, Midco, South Dakota Telecommunications Association, Golden West Telecommunications and Vantage Point Solutions.

Jordyn is a videographer with SDPB.