NDIA Submits Comments to Treasury Recommending ARPA funds Support Gap Networks

During the pandemic, over 40 communities across the country built wireless networks to address the unaffordability of internet service. These wireless networks proved to be a useful tool for communities in their attempt to address internet affordability. As such, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance submitted comments to the US Department of the Treasury in response to the recently released Interim Final Rule for local and state governments suggesting gap networks be considered an eligible expense under the “Assistance to Households” section outlined in Sec. 602 and Sec. 603 of the American Rescue Plan’s Act of 2021. In our comments, NDIA demonstrated why gap networks–networks designed to offer very affordable or no-cost internet access for lower-income households with low broadband adoption rates–should be considered as an affordability tool instead of a tool to address broadband availability.