Broadband Dollars in Demand

As another Covid-era school year begins, it’s not just local and state governments and internet providers that are desperate for broadband cash. A coalition representing schools and libraries is urging Congress to replenish funding for a Federal Communications Commission funding program aimed at boosting connectivity for students, school staff and library patrons. It is “imperative” for lawmakers to include the SUCCESS Act as part of the $3.5 trillion budget partisan spending package that Democrats are pushing through Congress, the Education and Libraries Networks Coalition said. The group includes the American Federation of Teachers, the American Library Association and the National Education Association. That bill, sponsored by Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), would authorize $40 billion over five years for the FCC program. It’s not clear how open Democrats would be to that suggestion, given President Joe Biden has said he doesn’t want to double dip into the $3.5 trillion for areas that are expected to receive funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package, which already includes $65 billion for broadband funding.