Stick to Principle

The principles we need to connect us were enshrined by a Republican-led Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In the legislation, overwhelmingly approved by both Republicans and Democrats, the law mandates that the Federal Communications Commission to base policies for the preservation and advancement of universal service on principles including:

• Quality services should be available at just, reasonable, and affordable rates.
• Access to broadband should be provided in all regions of the Nation.
• Consumers in all regions of the Nation, including low-income consumers and those in rural, insular, and high-cost areas, should have access to broadband that is reasonably comparable to broadband provided in urban areas and that is available at rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar services in urban areas.
• Elementary and secondary schools and classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should have access to affordable broadband for educational purposes.

As it considers additional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress should heed FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's advice: act quickly and decisively to make sure that as many Americans as possible have broadband access in their homes -- and enhance existing programs rather than start from scratch. Connecting our kids to educational opportunities and connecting doctors with patients online are not radical new ideas. These are principles a Republican-led Congress enacted nearly 25 years ago. And this is no time to betray our principles -- or our kids.