Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins have taken a significant step by sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). They are urging the FCC to return defaulted funds from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to Missouri. This initiative aims to enhance broadband and rural internet access in the state.
Attorney General Bailey stated, "As Attorney General, I will enforce the laws as written, which includes ensuring the FCC follows precedent and returns the allocated funding to Missouri families who depend daily on internet access." He emphasized his office's commitment to securing affordable internet service for Missourians while safeguarding taxpayer money.
Garrett Hawkins expressed that "Missourians expect accountability, both from internet service providers who receive incentives and from the government entity that distributes their tax dollars. Returning these defaulted funds to Missouri will enable our state to serve people that have been left behind and are still waiting for reliable and affordable broadband."
The push for action comes after revelations that RDOF will not connect 85,000 service locations in Missouri, resulting in a loss of approximately $177 million in federal investment for the state.
Bailey called for decisive action by stating, “that action be taken by the FCC to rightfully return previously allocated funding to Missouri so that we can continue to expand needed broadband access in our state.”
He further highlighted the importance of reliable internet access for rural Americans: “Rural Americans rely on affordable and reliable internet access to run their households, businesses, and farms. We rely on broadband for telemedicine, education, and access to everyday necessities in our increasingly digital world."
Bailey stressed that these funds were initially meant for deployment in underserved rural areas: “These funds, originally intended for deployment in rural under-served areas, are critical as we seek to connect every household to reliable internet service. Citizens should not be penalized for these defaults, which reach disproportionately across rural areas.”
Concluding his statement, Bailey said returning these funds would promote cooperation between state and federal agencies: “Returning these funds to the state for use in the original intended area would be a positive step forward in encouraging cooperation between state and federal agencies of jurisdiction.”
The letter sent by Attorney General Bailey can be accessed online.