Washington D.C. (WQOW) – Senator Tammy Baldwin is pushing to get more of rural Wisconsin connected through broadband.

Baldwin said 700,000 Wisconsin households, many of them in rural areas, don’t have reliable fast internet.

She introduced the Access Broadband Act, which would create the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Baldwin said she’s talked to families who have to drive to libraries or school parking lots so their kids can get their homework done.

Her goal is to improve access to broadband in more rural areas across the country by removing regulations from small telecommunication companies. “It was an SEC regulation aimed at the big telecom companies,” said Baldwin. “And the costs that we see our small rural telecoms spending to comply with this regulation … is really stifling their ability to invest in our local communities.”

The bipartisan, bicameral legislation also has the support of Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. The next step would be for the bill to go to committee.