42 Organizations Call for Congress to Take Urgent Action to Permanently Eliminate the Digital Divide

Connect Americans Now (CAN) sent a letter to Congressional leaders, co-signed by 42 organizations, representing leaders in agriculture, education, digital and housing equity, health care, technology, veterans issues and more, highlighting the urgency for solutions to close the broadband gap and calling for lawmakers to swiftly pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and advance additional permanent solutions to permanently eliminate the digital divide. “CAN and the co-signed organizations below commend the progress thus far in Congress to advance the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," the letter said. "This legislation represents an important first step in bringing affordable, reliable broadband and digital skills to every American — regardless of zip code. While much more needs to be done to permanently close the broadband gap in every community, this legislation provides an essential $65 billion down payment toward bridging the digital divide through broadband deployment, adoption and digital skills training.” The organizations encouraged lawmakers to pass the infrastructure bill by the end of October 2021, of which there are only a few days left.