Politics & Government

Edison Mayor Pushes For Township-Wide Broadband Internet

Mayor Joshi is keen to establish broadband internet across town to help businesses and residents have easy access to the web.

(Office of Sen. Cory Booker via Mayor's Office, Edison)

EDISON, NJ — Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, met with Sen. Cory Booker on Thursday to discuss establishing township-wide broadband internet. This has been one of Joshi's platforms when he was running for elections.

Joshi was in Washington D.C. to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The four-day event is designed for mayors to review best practices, collaborate on initiatives and advocate for their town’s needs.

According to Joshi, high-speed internet would provide an alternative to the widely-used Optimum and give Edison businesses and residents access to the web with ease.

Find out what's happening in Princetonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

In 2017, Booker introduced the Community Broadband Act, which aimed to preserve communities' rights to invest in broadband networks. Joshi said Booker's knowledge and connections provided a helpful roadmap.

"If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that access to affordable, reliable internet is a necessity for our economy and education systems," Joshi said. "With the help of national leaders like Cory Booker, we'll ensure that Edison children can do their homework and local businesses can thrive."

Find out what's happening in Princetonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

While in Washington, Joshi also participated in "Delivering Innovative Infrastructure in America's Cities" – a forum hosted by the US Conference of Mayors.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.