Rep Kelly, Sen Durbin introduce bicameral bill to increase access to broadband service for Americans

Rep Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Sen Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bicameral bill that would increase access to broadband service for low-income urban and rural Americans. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would help states increase awareness and enrollment in the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program, which provides a monthly subsidy to help low-income households pay for their broadband and telephone service. Specifically, the legislation would establish a competitive grant program through the FCC that would allow states to inform eligible recipients of the Lifeline program. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would:

• Award grants to at least 25 percent of states;
• Direct the FCC to consider several factors in evaluating applications, including states with a higher number of covered individuals, states with plans with the potential to reach a higher percentage of eligible-but-not-enrolled households, and geographic diversity;
• Allow states to use the funds to inform eligible individuals that are not enrolled, provide information on how to apply for Lifeline, and partner with non-profit and community-based organizations with a proven track record of implementing digital inclusion initiatives to assist individuals applying for Lifeline; and
• Require the FCC to issue a report to Congress within a year of establishing the grant program evaluating the grant’s effectiveness.