The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee is pressing to expand by the end of the year high-speed internet access to all 24 million Americans without it.

The deadline from Chair David Scott (Ga.) comes as bipartisan lawmakers and the broadband industry call for a permanent solution to internet access hurdles in remote locales, instead of relying on pilot loan programs. Whether such a plan will be included in a broader infrastructure package, tacked onto the next farm bill, or pushed through as stand-alone legislation, remains to be seen.

Building out high-speed internet to connect the “last mile” in hard-to-reach rural communities has been costly, and is one of the biggest obstacles to deployment. The coronavirus pandemic has increased pressure for an immediate fix, highlighting how much rural communities struggle with access to online schooling and telehealth.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree a permanent federal solution is needed, rather than relying on temporary programs from the Agriculture Department and the Federal Communications Commission. Despite discussing rural broadband challenges for over a decade, lawmakers remain divided on issues of cost, technology, and the role of the private sector.

More at Bloomberg.