FCC Commissioner Starks Remarks to Emergency Broadband Benefit Roundtable

There are lots of details to work out, but the two biggest issues we face in setting up the Emergency Broadband Benefit program are both on the agenda today: First, how will we get the word out? We need a broad, collaborative outreach effort that must coordinate across the federal government and also include state and local governments, broadband providers, nonprofits, philanthropy, educators, and direct service providers. It also means making the sign-up process as straightforward and simple as possible.

The second issue is maximizing the number of broadband providers who participate. We will only succeed in reaching every eligible community if a wide variety of providers—big and small—join the effort. My conversations with broadband providers over the last year give me confidence we can meet that goal. Many of them responded to the pandemic with programs to support their communities. The Emergency Broadband Benefit should expand, extend, and amplify those efforts—and bring new providers to the table. I look forward to hearing from today’s panelists on how we remove any unnecessary hurdles to provider participation and ample consumer choice.