In an interview Monday afternoon, Spanberger said better rural broadband and health care are the two issues her 7th District constituents most frequently ask her to pursue. Seven of the district’s 10 localities are rural.

“Broadband is important to ensure economic opportunity,” she said. “In rural communities such as Culpeper, Louisa and Amelia, rural internet connectivity is a challenge for many families and businesses.”

Spanberger said constituents have told her of their children having to camp at McDonald’s restaurants to use the restaurants’ Wifi to do homework, or of driving their students to a different locality to access the internet at a public library.

Farm families have told her that poor internet access interferes with their ability to conduct commerce, keep in touch with buyers and suppliers, and to use more efficient, data-driven techniques in tending their fields and crops.

“This is a really substantial problem,” she said.

With better internet, more new businesses can be attracted to rural communities, the Democrat said.