Cramer Delivers Remarks at Broadband Association of North Dakota’s Conference

BISMARCK, N.D. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined broadband providers and industry leaders at the Broadband Association of North Dakota’s Summer Conference today, highlighting North Dakota’s position as a national leader in expanding high-speed internet access and its path toward becoming the first state in the nation with universal broadband coverage. Addressing attendees in Bismarck, Cramer credited years of strategic investment in fiber infrastructure—stretching back to his days serving on the Public Service Commission—for bringing reliable, high-speed internet to communities across the state. Today, an estimated 95% of North Dakota households—including nearly 80% of farms—have access to broadband speeds of at least 100 Mbps, while nearly 70% can access gig-speed fiber service. “Thank you for being part of this association, and congratulations on nearing 100 percent broadband connectivity across North Dakota,” said Cramer. “Your leadership has created a culture that embraces innovation, and your vision and foresight have helped make our state a national model for broadband expansion.” The conference brought together telecommunications providers, innovators, policymakers, and industry partners to discuss the future of broadband infrastructure, emerging technologies, and efforts to ensure every North Dakotan has access to reliable, high-speed internet. The state’s sustained momentum can also be attributed to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s approval of North Dakota’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program implementation plan. The approval enables North Dakota to complete broadband expansion in its remaining unserved and underserved areas while building on one of the nation’s strongest broadband networks. The BEAD program was established under the fully-paid-for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Cramer helped craft and shepherd through Congress in 2021.