On Monday, Representative Meghan Lukens and House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon released a statement on the Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee.The bipartisan interim committee is studying cellular connectivity issues in rural and historically underserved communities to develop legislation for the 2025 legislative session.

Lukens, of Steamboat Springs, is committee chairman.

“Effective cellular connectivity is critical to public safety, job growth and quality of life in rural communities,” Lukens said in the statement. “This committee is working hard to investigate the root causes of connectivity problems in our state to address coverage gaps, especially in rural and mountainous communities.”

“During today’s meeting, we spoke with industry experts, including a community panel that outlined some of the issues and challenges facing underserved communities. As we develop ideas for legislation, I am committed to working toward a future where everyone in our state can confidently rely on their cell phone in an emergency.”

Bacon also explained that while mobile phone use is widespread, connectivity can be a problem for marginalized groups in both urban and rural areas.

“We convened the Cell Phone Connectivity Interim Study Committee to take a close look at the gaps in cellular coverage across our state, including in the areas most affected by unreliable coverage, and to examine the impact on Coloradans,” Bacon said.