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  2. April 2021

April 2021

The nation needs President Biden's bold, futuristic infrastructure plan

To make the most of technology’s future, the United States again needs a bold infrastructure plan that will create a springboard for new jobs, sustained competitiveness, and broader prosperity. While many details and the need for compromise lie ahead, we believe President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan, or AJP, points in the right direction. Broadband has become the electricity of the 21st century, providing the lifeblood for jobs, healthcare, and education. But like electricity in the 1930s, it hasn’t reached tens of millions of people.

Focusing on Affordability

With a proposal to spend $100 billion to ensure that all Americans have affordable and reliable internet service, the Biden Administration has made closing the digital divide a huge priority. Much remains to be done to fill in the specifics of what this means, but two types of policy tools come to mind when thinking about how to address the digital divide. Top of mind is promoting competition. Fostering competition means investing in new infrastructure, thereby giving consumers more choice for very high-speed service.

Op-ed

Focusing on Affordability

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Monday, April 19, 2021

Sponsor 

Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition

Date 
Wed, 04/28/2021 - 13:00

Support for federal broadband funding to connect rural America has never been stronger, but pole attachment rules and other rights-of-way issues are impeding deployment of both wired and wireless networks. Accessing utility poles and obtaining rights-of-way permitting can create significant delays and sometimes make up a third of the total cost to build, making these areas uneconomic to serve. How can policymakers and broadband stakeholders reduce these costs and streamline approvals while respecting the rights of owners?


Time to cut internet cords: T-Mobile, Verizon up their bids to be your next home broadband

Cord cutting is coming to home internet access, not just pay TV – but not every embittered broadband customer will be able to fire their current provider and switch to residential wireless from T-Mobile and Verizon. Both carriers offer connectivity at speeds that may not match those of cable internet but should be fast enough for many home uses. They also don’t inflict cable’s data caps or modem-rental fees.

House Commerce Committee Republicans Caution FCC Chair Rosenworcel on Rolling Back Internet Service Protections for Americans

House Commerce Committee Republicans, led by Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob Latta, sent a letter urging Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Rosenworcel not to impose stringent net neutrality regulations, which could result in Americans losing their internet offerings. Almost immediately after California enforced its new net neutrality law, two Internet providers reportedly told the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that the law could force them to end arrangements with US wireless carr

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