HONORING OUR HEROES: THE NEW TECHNOLOGY CONNECTING AND SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED US
Nov 11, 2025
American-Made LEO Satellite Broadband Is Empowering Veterans And Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
This Veterans Day, the Connect Everyone Coalition (CEC) honors the bravery, dedication and sacrifices of the men and women who have served our nation in uniform. We are proud that our work to expand broadband access can play one small part in helping veterans overcome some of the challenges that can persist after they come home. Especially for veterans who call rural communities and small towns home, a lack of reliable, high-speed internet access can make it unnecessarily difficult to connect with healthcare services, take advantage of economic opportunities and stay engaged with friends and family.
Scott Denniston, executive director of the Service-Disabled Veteran Medical Products Group (SDV-MPG), reflects on the importance of continuing to innovate and expand internet access as a key way to support veterans’ futures:
“Since the beginning of our nation almost 250 years ago, men and women have answered the call to defend our country and freedoms from our enemies. The nation owes a great debt of gratitude to these brave men and women,” says Scott Denniston. “Technology and connectivity play a growing role in veterans’ access to education benefits, modern remote healthcare and entrepreneurship. In order to take full advantage of the expertise, experience and love of country that veterans bring to the table to advance living in the United States, it is vital that no veteran be left behind by 21st-century innovation. CEC’s good work will help ensure all veteran communities and businesses have access to critical technology and connectivity that many of us take for granted.”
Emerging technologies like LEO satellite broadband offer a lifeline to veterans by bridging the digital divide and expanding access to vital resources, especially for those in rural and underserved areas. Approximately 24 percent of U.S. veterans live in rural areas, where traditional internet infrastructure is often limited or unreliable. But LEO satellite broadband is far less dependent on in-ground infrastructure. Now, nearly anyone on the planet who can plug a small terminal into electrical power can connect to full-speed broadband. This simple setup allows veterans to gain access to critical services, including telehealth for mental health and chronic condition management, video-based counseling and educational resources.
As LEO satellite technology continues to scale, more veteran-owned businesses can unlock new economic opportunities without having to wait for complicated infrastructure to roll out or pay expensive installation fees. Faster, more affordable and more reliable connectivity can enable businesses to better compete in digital markets, improve workforce development and modernize their operations. Nearly every aspect of doing business in 2025 relies on or benefits from a reliable internet connection.
As more veteran-owned small businesses attain greater connectivity through LEO satellites, benefits will continue expanding. Better-connected Main Street businesses will be increasingly able to inject job creation and wage growth into local communities and the broader economy. A 2022 report from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center found that “investing in digital equity” in the United States would “exponentially boost economic opportunities and create cost savings for generations to come.” When connectivity expands, a “ripple effect” improves economic productivity, workforce development and access to capital.
This Veterans Day, the Connect Everyone Coalition urges policymakers and the public to recognize the vital importance of connecting veterans and veteran-owned small businesses. CEC champions the use of all available technologies, including LEO satellite broadband, as critical tools to finally bridge the digital divide and ensure reliable internet connectivity reaches every American. One of many ways to honor the service of our veterans is to expand their access to essential resources and opportunities.
CEC is proud to count among our membership the Coalition of Small and Disabled Veteran Businesses (CSDVB) and the Service-Disabled Veteran Medical Products Group (SDV-MPG) alongside members representing other sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, technology and more.
Read more about the Connect Everyone Coalition HERE.
To join the coalition, interested organizations and businesses are encouraged to learn more HERE.