States Seek to Fund Broadband Upgrades in Affordable Rental Housing

Getting access to broadband services remains a challenge for many residents of affordable rental housing. Though these properties are often in areas that have high-speed internet service, physical access and cost may keep households offline. Recognizing these challenges, several states have directed funding toward programs focused on expanding broadband access in affordable rental housing. Pandemic relief funds are another tool states are using to improve broadband access in low-income neighborhoods and affordable rental housing. Several states have also allocated a portion of their Capital Projects Fund (CPF) dollars, a $10 billion fund created through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that may be used for broadband, toward improving connectivity for low-income households living in multifamily buildings. The efforts underway in these states will be critical to better understanding different models for connecting low-income multifamily properties, as well as how factors such as property age and type, resident demographics, and geography inform solutions. Analyzing how well these initiatives succeed can help inform states and communities in their efforts to bridge the digital divide, including as they consider how best to allocate funds from the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and Digital Equity Act available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) enacted in late 2021.

[Kelly Wert works on internet access in vulnerable communities for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ broadband access initiative.]