Sens Blumenthal and Markey Suggest Priorities for Broadband Infrastructure Programs to NTIA

"As the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA) takes significant steps to close the digital divide and bring broadband to more Americans under the bipartisan infrastructure law, we write to encourage the Agency to prioritize and protect competition, high quality jobs, affordability, and consumer protection standards in its grant programs," said Sens Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in a letter to NTIA Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson. Regarding the broadband programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the senators urge the NTIA to:

• ensure affordable and equitable broadband options for all Americans: the senators encourage the NTIA to use its rulemaking on low cost options to ensure that affordable broadband is readily-accessible for all Americans that need the assistance.
• Promote competition through wholesale and nondiscriminatory access requirements: NTIA should encourage competition in unserved and underserved areas and ensure that innovative competitors can access those areas.
• Support American workers with high-quality jobs: the senators support strong labor standards that give preference to high-road employers and training initiatives tied to good jobs.
• Promote safeguards for the free and open internet: the senators encourage NTIA to implement measures that promote net neutrality as it fulfills its mandates under the Infrastructure Act.