Federal broadband stimulus should be guided by state experience

Federal funding and expertise are necessary to achieving universal connectivity, but every level of government has a role to play in bridging the digital divide — especially for completing the “last mile,” the part of the network that connects a local internet provider to residences and small businesses. States are uniquely positioned to help reach unserved communities: They’re large enough to work with the federal government and internet service providers (ISPs) but close enough to local communities to know the stakeholders and understand an area’s economy, geography, demographics, and politics. As federal policymakers look to invest the stimulus funds in expanding broadband, they can learn from states that have been working to improve broadband access for their residents. In fact, as a recent report from The Pew Charitable Trusts demonstrates, states are finding innovative and creative ways to advance their broadband goals — stepping up with financing, infrastructure, regulatory and communication strategies, and plenty of public-private partnerships.

[Anne Stauffer is director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ work on fiscal federalism, broadband research, and student loan research]