American Rescue Plan includes historic broadband investment for Maine

The digital divide leaves millions without access to high-speed broadband and the immense opportunities it provides. I’m proud to say that we have secured a historic broadband investment in the American Rescue Plan. First, $10 billion for broadband deployment and infrastructure, digital inclusion and other efforts to close the digital divide. These funds represent one of the most important broadband investments ever made in the history of the United States. Similar to my December proposal with a bipartisan group of colleagues, this funding will be provided directly to states, territories and tribal governments in order to support broadband deployment and a broad set of flexible uses to improve broadband infrastructure, digital inclusion and related efforts to close the digital divide. Final allocations will be determined by the Administration providing they align with Congressional intent in these provisions, but Maine is set to receive roughly $120 million from this fund. More than $7 billion to expand educational connectivity. Without access to teachers or the ability to complete assignments — commonly known as the “homework gap” — these students have fallen behind in the past year. I’ve been pushing for funds to address this crisis for the past year through the Emergency Educational Connections Act, and I’m thrilled to say that the American Rescue Plan includes more than $7 billion to help ensure that all K-12 students have home internet connectivity and the necessary capabilities to learn remotely during the pandemic.