White House wants universal broadband by 2030, but funding could take years to deliver

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said she is committed to the administration’s goal of universal broadband by 2030, but cautioned that distributing funds from the new infrastructure law to meet that deadline could take years. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $65 billion to improve broadband access and affordability. Most of that is funneled through the Department of Commerce, and Sec Raimondo said that some of those dollars – such as money for tribal governments – are starting to trickle out. But the bulk of the funding will take longer. The department plans to set up a process for states to apply for the money by May. It’s also waiting on the Federal Communications Commission to update its controversial broadband access maps, expected around the middle of 2022. Disbursing the money may not occur until 2023.