Legislation to Support Broadband Connectivity for College Students in Need

Reps Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), Doris Matsui (D-CA-6), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC-01), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20),  Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At-Large), and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) introduced legislation to establish a new program to support college students who are unable to participate in distance learning. The Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act provides $1 billion to colleges and universities to pay for at-home internet connections for students in need. Higher education institutions can use the funding to pay for routers, modems, wi-fi hotspots, tablets, or laptops, as well as monthly broadband service for students. Funding would be prioritized for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions, as well as rural-serving institutions. Institutions receiving funding must prioritize students eligible for need-based financial aid such as Pell Grants or means-tested social safety net programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid.

A companion measure was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).