North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman enjoyed last night’s State of the Union address. After the speech he told the Marin Independent Journal, “I thought the president was at the top of his game tonight.”

But his ears must have pricked up when President Barack Obama mentioned the digital divide — that is, the opportunity gap between people who have high-speed Internet access and those who don’t. That divide runs through Huffman’s district like fault lines, with many rural residents having to do without. So Huffman sent off a letter to the president.

“I respectfully invite you to travel to the North Coast and meet firsthand with the people on the frontline of closing the digital divide in rural America,” he said.

Your move, Obama.

Here’s a press release explaining matters:

WASHINGTON­—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today invited President Barack Obama to visit California’s North Coast to discuss closing the digital divide in rural America.  During last night’s State of the Union Address, President Obama called for a major investment in “21st century infrastructure — modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest internet.” 

In a letter sent today, Huffman noted that many communities on California’s rural North Coast do not have access to reliable high speed Internet choices due to difficult terrain and chronic underinvestment in physical infrastructure. Many of Huffman’s constituents have slow connection speeds and frequently lose connectivity. The lack of reliable broadband infrastructure on the rural North Coast has left many communities unable to pursue new economic opportunities. 

“My constituents who currently have slow connection speeds and intermittent Internet service know the importance of broadband access for economic development and a vibrant quality of life. Bringing reliable broadband to underserved rural areas would improve educational opportunities, expand access to healthcare, and help local businesses,” Huffman wrote. “I respectfully invite you to travel to the North Coast and meet firsthand with the people on the frontline of closing the digital divide in rural America. I believe that visiting the region and seeing the work that must be done to connect these communities — and the significant value that broadband connections would bring — would be instructive to your administration.”

Huffman also invited President Obama to tour the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument, which President Obama created using the Antiquities Act last year.