The FCC’s coronavirus pledge just ended, but the pandemic hasn’t. What happens next?

With the Keep Americans Connected pledge ending July 1 — and the pandemic continuing — the question remains: What comes next for those who can’t afford to get online? Benton senior fellow and public advocate Gigi Sohn said she felt the pledge was the “bare minimum” of what Internet service providers could have done during the pandemic, and it was time for Congress to act. A flurry of bills have been proposed that try to address the connectivity issues of the digital divide which have been highlighted by coronavirus. “We need to pass one of the bills that gives a significant subsidy for broadband now. We’re so way past time,” Sohn said. Sohn added that it was a “national shame” that Congress has not yet passed a bill to make broadband more available. “The Republicans and Democrats are so far apart. If you’re not talking about a significant monthly subsidy, you’re not talking about anything,” Sohn said. “[Republicans] are talking about little changes here and there, making sure school kids have devices—which is not enough. There’s no talk about any significant government investment in affordability. If you’re not talking about that, you’re not talking about anything that’s worthwhile. That’s the problem.”