Pragmatic Steps to Deliver Digital Connectivity, Trust, and Opportunity For All

There are pragmatic steps within reach to ensure connectivity for all, trust for all, and opportunity for all:

• Without Congressional action, millions of at-risk Americans could lose their internet access in 2024 if the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is not extended. It's imperative that Congress extend this vital program. 
• We also need to connect the 6.5 million Americans living in low-income apartment buildings who are disconnected. Congress funded a key provision to extend hotel-style Wi-Fi into low-income apartment buildings so residents can access it for free. States now need to prioritize these projects in their broadband plans to get everyone online.
• Congress also needs to do more by passing a comprehensive national privacy framework to ensure that privacy protection is built into our technologies by design. To thwart bad actors, policymakers also should support and encourage the vigorous efforts already underway to provide robust protections for people's privacy, safety, and security on their devices — efforts that prevent billions in fraudulent transactions.
• While 92% of all jobs require digital skills, 50% of Black workers and 57% of Hispanic workers lack the basic digital skills necessary to succeed in the digital economy. We not only need to expand access to basic digital skills but also ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn the more advanced skills.

[Jim Kohlenberger is a technology and innovation policy strategist—and a member of the board of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. He has served in both the Clinton and Obama White House and in the US Senate.]