The Infrastructure Law is Still about More than Money

A year ago, I urged us all to look beyond the $65 billion the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act sets aside for broadband and realize the importance of Congress’ recognition that access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern life in the United States. I still find this renewed and updated Congressional commitment to universal service to be astounding. We should continue to celebrate it—and continue the work that ensures this commitment becomes a reality. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed in all-too-stark terms what is at stake if we do not close the digital divide and extend digital opportunity to everyone in the U.S. Although our “Broadband Moment” may have been born to address the unmistakable gaps laid bare during the pandemic, the roots of this commitment go as far back at least to 1996 when Congress instructed the Federal Communications Commission to encourage the timely deployment of broadband. Our choice has always been either to allow the divide to persist, holding back individuals, families, communities, and our nation—or to ensure everyone can use broadband fit for the changing world. With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, America chooses the latter. We will all be better for it.