Bridging the Digital (Veteran) Divide

Rep Jerry McNerney (D-CA) has introduced a bill to boost broadband access for veterans, saying they should not be left behind in the push for broadband adoption. Rep McNerney is a member of both the House Communications and Veterans Affairs subcommittees. The bill, the Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016, would require the Federal Communications Commission to launch a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) into veterans' current access to broadband and what can be done to increase access.

Boosting that access could conceivably piggyback on current Universal Service Fund subsidies since Rep McNerney's office says the NOI would focus on low income veterans and those in rural areas. "Veterans, who fight tirelessly to protect our country, face many challenges when they return home. Not having internet access makes what is already an incredibly difficult transition process even harder,” said Rep McNerney. The congressman cited a Pew Research study that found that less than half of those living below the poverty have broadband access at home. He also cited National Telecommunications & Information Administration figures showing rural adoption lags urban.