The COVID-19 pandemic has shown many Americans just how important a reliable internet connection can be. In a new op-ed published in The Hill , Fiber Broadband Association President & CEO Lisa R. Youngers writes that in order to fuel that need the U.S. needs to prioritize our communication networks and give access to everyone regardless of their geographical location.

We need work to ensure all Americans have access to reliable fiber networks and the internet that powers the 21st Century. And it has to be fiber. Fiber broadband is a superior technology that provides much greater bandwidth and speeds for more robust video, internet, and voice services. The accelerated deployment of fiber broadband infrastructure is essential to close the digital divide, provide strong networks to support our changing online needs, and build resilience against existential threats such as pandemics. And once we deploy fiber in a community, it is a gift that keeps on giving. Fiber not only connects homes, schools, businesses, and anchor institutions to the internet, but also provides necessary critical infrastructure for 5G, towers, wireless networks, the Internet of Things, and smart city applications.

Broadband has never been more important. Now is the time to include fiber broadband funding into stimulus legislation to bridge the digital divide once and for all. Let’s build once and build right with future-proof fiber networks.

To read the full op-ed, visit The Hill's website.