Democrats May Hitch E-Rate Boost to Next Pandemic Package

Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) wants to see Congress wrap serious money expanding the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate subsidy program into its next pandemic relief package — a key delineation as Democrats plot out both pandemic aid and subsequent infrastructure legislative goals. Sen Markey said this would be distinct from Democrats’ more comprehensive digital ambitions, which would come later, as part of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure deal-making. Those include $100 billion for a series of broadband infrastructure and digital training investments in a measure led by House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC). The top priority for Democrats now is pandemic relief, which could be passed without GOP support if Democrats move forward using budget reconciliation. President Biden didn’t explicitly address such funding as part of his so-called $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Sen Markey cited his own push for at least $4 billion to bolster E-Rate. President Biden backs an expansion of E-Rate “and is happy to work with Congress on how to best address the digital divide for students,” said a White House spokesperson when asked about Markey’s advocacy. But Biden’s initial Covid proposal seeks to address these connectivity challenges not through that FCC program but, as the spokesperson said, through “flexible funding for schools to facilitate distance learning and address the digital divide.”