Congress needs to provide flexible funding to states to deploy broadband networks

Over the past few weeks, millions of kids couldn’t begin learning at all because they do not have access to affordable, high-speed internet. In Colorado, 65,000 students don’t have access to the internet at home. Nationwide, 17 million students don’t have access to high-speed broadband, including one in three Black, Latino, and Native households. Worse, even families with broadband often struggle with slow connections that can’t handle multiple users or modern applications like videoconferencing. As a country, we have failed to invest in modern infrastructure, especially in rural communities. Now, our children are paying the price. It is long past time for a new approach. That is why, this summer, I introduced the BRIDGE Act to put our communities — not Washington — in the driver’s seat about where and how to invest in high-speed internet. Our bill provides $30 billion to states and $1 billion to tribal governments to deploy affordable, high-speed broadband to connect areas with little or no service, including unserved neighborhoods, schools, libraries, and community centers. To ensure this taxpayer investment benefits everyone, our bill also requires new networks to include an affordable option for low-income families.