Broadband costs too much for some people. Fixing that won't be easy

Federal and state governments have earmarked billions of dollars to build out fast internet service, but most plans don't address one of the biggest reasons people don't have broadband at home: They can't afford to pay for service. If the early days of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program are any indication, there is big demand for a more substantial subsidy. In the first week of the program, more than 1 million households signed up. Some civil rights and consumer groups are joining with the broadband industry to push Congress to make the broadband subsidy permanent. Groups such as the National Urban League, American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators are teaming up with broadband companies like AT&T, Comcast, Charter and Verizon in a coalition they're calling Broadband Equity for All to ask Congress to create a "predictable, dependable, long-term broadband benefit program." But Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate Gigi Sohn warned that policymakers should proceed with caution when it comes to making something like an EBB subsidy permanent. "I agree a permanent subsidy is needed," she said. "But it can't unjustly enrich companies or incentivize them to keep their prices high." She also agrees that Congress needs to find a sustainable way to fund the subsidy. "We can't require advocates for low-income individuals to come hat in hand to Congress every year for appropriations," she added.