Re-elect Ed Markey

As more and more daily interactions go virtual due to the pandemic, the need for rural internet access has never been more apparent. Western Massachusetts needs a strong advocate to fight for rural broadband and technological infrastructure in our communities, and that is why we need to re-elect Ed Markey to the United States Senate.

In Franklin County, only 80 percent of residents have access to reliable, high-speed internet. This has always been a problem for our rural communities, but the current pandemic has exacerbated the issue. People are unable to access virtual work, school, social interactions, and doctor’s appointments because they are completely isolated from the digital world, and this is detrimental to mental and physical wellbeing in the present moment.

No one should be disconnected from the thing that has become the sole lifeline during this trying time, and Ed Markey is determined to make that a reality. While more pressing than ever, the current situation is merely mapped onto decades of technological inadequacies here in Western Massachusetts. Sen. Markey deeply understands this. For years, he has been fighting to make broadband accessible to all Massachusetts residents, introducing legislation that has secured millions of dollars to connect people to the critical technological infrastructure they need.

In February of this year alone, he secured $10.2 million for rural Massachusetts, helping over 4,600 homes and businesses bridge the digital divide. This is critical for ensuring the future and current success of Franklin County, and is only one of the many things he has done for our region as our incumbent Senator.

Losing Sen. Markey’s leadership and knowledge on rural issues in the Senate would be detrimental to Western Massachusetts, so please join me in voting for him on Sept. 1.

Emma Guyette

Buckland