To fix our infrastructure, Washington needs to start from scratch

Remaining globally competitive in the digital age will require a highly skilled workforce, genuine digital security, and fast and reliable telecommunications networks—all areas directly impacted by infrastructure policy. However, there are still millions of Americans who do not have basic digital skills, do not have direct access to computing equipment, and do not have personal access to a broadband connection. Many rural and metropolitan neighborhoods do not have any high-speed connections, putting every business there at a disadvantage. And water, transportation, and energy systems can do more to leverage digital monitoring and automated response systems. Our digital transformation is still far from complete.

While transportation and water legislation may be outmoded, Congress has never even approached comprehensive broadband legislation. Policies derived from the Communications Act of 1934 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 primarily center on just phone and television service. The result is a patchwork approach to broadband, focusing on the physical technologies delivering internet service. This is a missed opportunity to define national goals like preparing workers for a digital future or ensuring that every household can afford and use a personal broadband connection. Nor do these decades-old bills adequately consider the role of digital technology in the built environment. Rapid price decreases in computing power, cloud storage, and wireless capabilities—especially the coming 5G and Wi-Fi 6 platforms—allow us to track a range of products and activities in real time through what will become the internet of things (IoT). IoT will allow society to monitor water pipes, navigate autonomous vehicles, enhance streets’ walkability, and even change buildings’ energy use automatically. The federal government is vital to incentivizing development of this digital layer, from establishing responsible and secure data practices to clarifying local sovereignty over wireless installations. Such digital guidance can’t be found in laws written in the analog age.