Broadband is now our lifeline, but 20 million still lack access

The past month has taught us that the internet is the one indispensable tool Americans have amidst this crisis. but at least 20 million American households are currently without home access to broadband internet, primarily because they can’t afford it. These are the families on the wrong side of the digital divide, the most vulnerable people in our society. Disproportionately they are older, poorer, and sicker than the “average” American. Congress should devise a long-term solution to our continuing digital divide, once and for all. Congress must ensure adequate long-term funding and, even more importantly, must modernize broadband by directing the FCC to, at a minimum:

• Define and require a meaningful level of Lifeline broadband service;
• Assure an adequate funding mechanism for Lifeline;
• Permit subscribing households to receive Lifeline funding for more than one device by decoupling funding for Lifeline broadband from funding for mobile phones or other devices;
• Require the Federal Communications Commission to provide annual reports on the success of the Lifeline program in increasing broadband subscribership

[Larry Irving is a former US Assistant Secretary of Commerce]