Improving Broadband Access Does Double Duty for Biden’s Top Priorities

Right out of the gate, President Joe Biden has identified two main priorities: fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and promoting inclusive economic recovery. These are difficult tasks by any measure, but fortunately, meeting another major challenge unites both goals: universal and affordable broadband. But a long-term solution to the affordability gap is needed. Modernization of the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program, which provides a monthly phone or broadband subsidy for low-income families who qualify, could help: The FCC should adopt changes that provide the benefit directly to eligible consumers through the issuance of a Lifeline benefit card, which they could use to purchase the service that best suits their needs. More broadly, Congress should realize it is unsustainable to fund Lifeline through a tax on the anachronistic “long distance and international” component of regular phone service. Congress should revamp funding for universal service programs, eliminate the tax on long-distance and international phone service, and make universal service programs a line item in the federal budget supported by annual appropriations.

[Rick Boucher was a member of the House for 28 years and chaired the House Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and the Internet. He is honorary chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA). Bruce Mehlman served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Technology Policy and is founding co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA).]