I waited 25 years to get high-speed fiber optic broadband service, which finally arrived in 2021. Living on the wrong side of the digital divide as most of us in the hilltowns have, has been exacerbated by the actions of Sen. Ed Markey. Let’s review his sorry record.

Markey voted against the Farm Bill in 1985, 1996 and 2002. This legislation is what reauthorizes the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), which administers rural broadband programs for residents and businesses as well as distance-learning and telemedicine initiatives. In the 2002 bill, the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 was amended to provide funds to allow rural consumers to receive high-speed broadband service at a six-year cost of $100 million, as well as allow for expansion of 911 telephone service.

After Congress authorizes a program, it has to put up the money to pay for it. Because RUS is in the Rural Development section of the Agriculture Department, the funding comes through the Agriculture Appropriations bill — the annual spending plan for USDA agencies.

Here, Markey rubbed salt in the wound by voting against a series of ag appropriations bills: In 1992 he voted against the bill which contained $2.9 billion for rural development; in 1995 and 1999 he voted against the bill which contained $2.1 billion for rural development; and in 2006 he voted against the bill which contained $5.38 billion in loans for rural electrification and telecommunications.

According to www.opensecrets.org Markey has taken more than $507,000 in campaign donations from the largest telecommunications companies since 1989. These firms like AT&T, Verizon Communications and Comcast Corp. never invested in middle- and last-mile broadband in the hilltowns because our sparse population density didn’t fit the fat profit goals of their business models. Only when the federal and state governments subsidized rural broadband build-out did they commit to serving us.

These votes and campaign receipts help explain why Markey never visits our region of the state.

On Sept. 1, we can cut the cord on Markey and elect U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton.

Matt L. Barron

Chesterfield