Born and raised in New Mexico, Yvette Herrell represents the state’s largest congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of Committee on Natural Resources and Committee on Oversight and Reform. On Natural Resources, Herrell serves on the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee and as Vice Ranking Member of the Energy and Minerals Development Subcommittee. On Oversight, she serves on both the Environment and Government Operations Subcommittees. Herrell is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee.
Internet access is an important part of life in the 21st century. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only highlighted the necessity of broadband access but also the need to improve our infrastructure to reach underserved and unserved areas. While the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) most recent broadband deployment report shows that rural Americans are more connected than ever, there is more work to be done. We need to continue to incentivize private sector innovation and progress in building out infrastructure into New Mexico’s rural areas, and support programs such as the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund which recently awarded $9.2 billion to broadband companies to bring service to millions of Americans in rural areas over the next 10 years.
Freedom of speech is a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I am troubled by big tech companies such as Facebook and Twitter that have been engaging in unfair and arbitrary censorship of conservative voices. We live in an age where information is accessed easily at our fingertips through the internet, and it is imperative these companies facilitate and foster civil discourse and the free transmission of thoughts on digital platforms. I have cosponsored House Resolution 142, which condemns big tech’s actions on this matter. They must be held accountable for their policies.
Additionally, there have been increasing calls for the reform or repeal of Section 230, a provision of law passed as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, that gives companies certain liability protections. It is clear these protections should be reviewed and revised to ensure that companies are not abusing their protections and acting as an editorial entity by arbitrarily censoring or moderating speech.
Letters related the Telecommunications and Consumer Protection
October 21, 2021 - Letter to Chairwoman Rosenworcel on Requesting Information on the Status of Rural Internet Service.
April 22, 2021 - Letter to Postmaster General Regarding Spying on Online Activity
February 4, 2021 - Letter to Speaker Pelosi Regarding Big Tech Censorship