The coronavirus pandemic exposed the problems caused by the digital divide, the disparity in access to broadband and computers or devices to successfully participate in remote school and work.
"The pandemic put a big magnifying glass on this issue," Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who is introducing the bill in the Senate, told USA TODAY.
Last SlideNext Slide Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., who launched the Rural Broadband Task Force two years ago to address the digital divide, plans to introduce the bill in the House of Representatives.
He did the same last year, hoping former President Donald Trump would include it in his $2 trillion infrastructure plan , which never was officially unveiled.
Expanding and improving high-speed broadband networks in rural areas is a vital trade-off for other infrastructure spending in major cities, he says.
They do not need to apply but they will need to voluntarily enroll into the Emergency Broadband Benefit program through a participating internet provider or the FCC.
- House, Senate Democrats unveil $94 billion bill to improve Internet accessWashington Post
- SC Rep. Jim Clyburn reintroduces bill that funds broadband internet in rural communitiesCharleston Post Courier
- US lawmakers introduce bill to make high-speed internet available to allYahoo Tech
- Clyburn, Klobuchar push $94 billion fix to digital divideThe Hill
- Lawmakers Unveil 3 Bills To Expand Broadband AccessLaw360
- Bills would finally give the state a plan for broadbandAlbuquerque Journal
