As we begin 2021, the United States still grapples with the inequities laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic – especially the ever-present digital divide. The SHLB Coalition promotes open, affordable, high-quality broadband for anchor institutions and their communities because these institutions are key to connecting the estimated 42 million Americans without internet access. Community anchor institutions deserve a prominent place in the nation’s broadband policy framework because of their critical role in providing education, healthcare, research, and access to information. SHLB encourages the deployment of broadband networks “to and through” anchor institutions to reach surrounding residential communities. To advance our mission and close the digital divide, SHLB has identified the following policy priorities for 2021.

1. Increase affordable broadband access and adoption through anchor institutions.
2. Develop more accurate and granular broadband mapping data that includes anchor institutions.
3. Strengthen the E-rate program.
4. Increase funding and improve administration of the FCC’s Rural Health Care program.
5. Include higher education in broadband access initiatives.
6. Reform the USF funding mechanism.
7. Promote greater spectrum availability for anchor institutions.
8. Streamline pole attachments and rights-of-way processes.
9. Strengthen broadband infrastructure through anchor institutions.

Exploring the use of an innovative approach to a public-private partnership (PPP) to spur the deployment of broadband and create more resilient telecommunications networks in Puerto Rico. Such a partnership is a critical ingredient of the plan for rebuilding the telecommunications sector of Puerto Rico after the island was devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. The proposed partnership also has the potential for enabling the expansion of citizen access to broadband services throughout Puerto Rico. This work was done as part of the Congressionally-mandated economic and disaster recovery plan for the island.

The US Department of Agriculture announced Justin Maxson, CEO of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, has been named Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. Maxson served as the CEO of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, an organization that works toward poverty alleviation and economic justice in southern states. Before that, he spent 13 years as the president of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development. Maxson holds a master’s degree in anthropology and development from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Kentucky.

Peter Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend (IN) and President Biden’s nominee to head the Transportation Department gave a shoutout to broadband internet during his Senate Commerce nomination hearing on Jan 21, which could help elevate the issue in a Biden infrastructure push. Buttigieg will be a leading figure on infrastructure matters if confirmed. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who co-chairs the Broadband Caucus, used her questioning to probe the matter. While acknowledging that much of this would fall outside the Department of Transportation, she advocated for “dig once” policies (For those less familiar, “dig once” policies promote laying broadband cable at the same time that roadwork projects take place). Buttigieg said “dig once” policies thrived in South Bend and he lauded the fiber broadband availability there. “Even if this is being driven by another department, I would welcome the opportunity to make sure DOT’s side of the equation is open to supporting that broadband deployment because it’s so important in so many communities,” Buttigieg said.