Where Is the Broadband Money?

Low-income multifamily communities or those with a high percentage of unserved residents are now eligible to receive broadband deployment funding from Congress, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) reaffirmed this eligibility.  Each state is now building out its programs and establishing criteria that build upon federal priorities and requirements. This is a critical next step in ensuring the total and efficient disbursement of these funds. Very important: The way each state chooses to stand up for its programs will make or break industry eligibility in that state. The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) doubled down on advocacy efforts in this space. Though much of the work to get the dollars out the door and broadband deployed happens at the state level and will take considerable time, the last federal piece of the puzzle rests with the FCC. The NTIA ultimately distributes the funding, but Congress requires using FCC broadband maps to determine where deployment is needed in unserved and underserved areas. The FCC needs to act quickly to make these critical changes and support the priority status given to low-income multifamily properties in the IIJA.

[Kevin Donnelly is vice president of Government Affairs, Technology & Strategic Initiatives for the National Multifamily Housing Council. Valerie M. Sargent is a multifamily speaker, trainer, and executive consultant and is the multifamily news correspondent for Broadband Communities.]