Congressional Action Needed to Boost Efforts to Expand Broadband Access

The federal infrastructure bill enacted in late 2021 included resources and funding requirements to significantly narrow the gap between American households that have access to affordable, high-speed internet and those that do not. Although much of the implementation effort is in the hands of state governments, Congress’ work on expanding broadband access is far from over. In February 2022, The Pew Charitable Trusts brought together state broadband leaders and congressional staffers to discuss priorities for the coming year and the importance of collaboration among all levels of government. State officials identified four key challenges that could derail the implementation of federal funds: financial due diligence requirements, federal permitting processes, limited interagency coordination, and the need for sustainable funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the ACP provides eligible households with discounts on broadband services and connected devices. The discussion highlighted that state policymakers can offer valuable insights to federal lawmakers looking to better align programs at all levels to accelerate progress toward universally available and affordable broadband service.

[Katryn de Wit is Project Director of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Broadband Access Initiative.]