Congress Can Help America Stay Connected During the COVID Crisis

We served together on the Federal Communications Commission for nearly four years as commissioners: a Democrat from South Carolina and a Republican from Virginia. While we sometimes disagreed, we worked hard with our colleagues to expand broadband deployment and adoption to all Americans — especially the unserved and underserved. And the need to do so is made more acute by the current pandemic. In the midst of this scourge, the importance of broadband to help save lives, jobs and the economy has never been clearer. But too many people affected by the COVID crisis are at risk of not being able to pay for their broadband connections, thus threatening their ability to find a new job, further their children’s education, communicate with a doctor who could save their lives and maintain critical connectivity to friends and family. Thankfully, Congress can pass legislation that will help Americans stay connected with a simple program that uses competitive market forces and that will last only as long as the COVID crisis. Bipartisan and fiscally responsible legislation could be passed to include a temporary monthly broadband connectivity voucher to help for those in need.

[Mignon Clyburn served as a commissioner of the FCC from 2009 to 2018 serving as Acting Chair from May 2013 to October 2013.  Robert McDowell served as a commissioner of the FCC from 2006 to 2013 and is a partner at Cooley LLP, where he is co-leader of its global communications practice.]