Lawmakers are urging congressional leaders to prioritize emergency funding for high-speed internet access in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation.

More than two dozen lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter April 6 asking Democratic and Republican leaders of the U.S. House and Senate to set aside funding for a temporary emergency relief fund at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would help small broadband providers continue service for students and low-income families.

Since the onset of the pandemic, access to high-speed broadband service has become essential as jobs and schools have shifted online, health care providers deliver remote care, people shop online and civic and social life goes virtual.

But millions of Americans lack quality internet service, and many more could lose it if they are unable to pay broadband bills because of lost income or jobs, the lawmakers wrote.

The problem is especially dire in rural areas.

The Highland school board heard about the problem Monday evening.

Highland Elementary Principal Jane O’Leary said she has heard several families say that Internet speeds in the rural areas hinders doing online lessons.

“They say, ‘I can’t work from home because my Internet is not strong enough,’” O’Leary told the board. “That’s rural America.”

The district has purchased Internet hot spot devices for families to boost their bandwidth, but often it is not sufficient.

“That’s what families are running into,” O’Leary said. “They have three kids on devices, and they are trying to work from home.”