‘We Finally Have Something to Celebrate’: The Infrastructure Bill Is Signed

Included in the just signed infrastructure bill is a provision that will expand access to high-speed internet service and help narrow the nation’s digital divide. However, once this digital infrastructure is built out, many new broadband subscribers will also be exposed to online scams, invasions of privacy, computer viruses, malware and social media disinformation that unfortunately are enabled and accelerated by high-speed internet. Rather than simply connecting people who have not had much previous broadband expertise and letting them fend for themselves, the Biden administration should develop and distribute training materials to all such new subscribers on how to navigate the internet safely, responsibly and securely to ensure that this expansion of broadband doesn’t also result in a surge of digital dysfunction.