Bruce Mehlman

One glimmer of hope from the pandemic: The Universal Service Fund (USF), the government fund designed to make sure everyone in the United States is digitally connected, finally may get an overdue overhaul. While lawmakers and policymakers long have recognized the need for a rebuild, the pandemic made it clear that reform no longer can wait.

Right out of the gate, President Joe Biden has identified two main priorities: fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and promoting inclusive economic recovery. These are difficult tasks by any measure, but fortunately, meeting another major challenge unites both goals: universal and affordable broadband.

Money spent getting high-speed internet into more people’s hands is money well spent. Every dollar invested in broadband returns nearly four dollars to the economy. In addition to expanding the reach of networks, we must focus on the cost issue. Broadband is surely an essential need for all Americans in the 21st century.