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President Joe Biden announced what he called a “big step” toward internet for all, rolling out a $42 billion investment to deliver broadband to unserved and underserved communities. “With this funding, along with other federal investments, we’re going to be able to connect every person in America to reliable high-speed Internet by 2030,” President Biden said of the funds, allotted through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. But now, almost five months since the announcement, some broadband policy experts, advocates and progressives have been sounding the alarm that the program may not accomplish what the president proposed. One concern is that as private equity firms move into the broadband industry, they’ll position their providers to win the fresh round of government funding, squeezing out small and midsize bidders. Advocates fear that the requirements to apply for funding will leave only private equity with the financial bona fides to meet them. The early tension points illustrate the typical, and challenging, growing pains that come along with implementing a plan of this scale.


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