Capitol Hill is locked in a fight over how much money to funnel to help students and teachers sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic get access to online learning, creating uncertainty for school districts as lawmakers and the White House rush to finalize a package of emergency measures. Millions of students are currently stuck at home as schools across the nation close, some without access to broadband internet and other tools needed to engage in remote learning. That's put sudden pressure on the Federal Communications Commission in its role as lead regulator providing connectivity subsidies to schools and libraries.The Trump administration and congressional leaders are in dialogue trying to land a stimulus package likely exceeding $1 trillion with the intention of proceeding to votes as soon as possible. But they remain odds over how to address the so-called digital homework gap, tussling over whether to slate money directly to the FCC’s existing E-Rate subsidy program or a new pilot program floated by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. He is seeking $50 million to implement this "off-campus connectivity pilot" aimed at expanding federal subsidies for wireless devices used outside of schools, according to a March 13 letter to congressional appropriators. He also requested $200 million for a telehealth pilot program aimed at expanding the availability of remote medical treatment nationwide. “This particular proposal is both timely and necessary,” Chairman Pai wrote in the letter. “Given schools are shuttering for weeks, our most important national asset — our young students — need online, in-residence access. Employees in many cases also must work from home in order to stem the spread of the disease, making clear the need for broadband access to support essential businesses and our overall economy.” Pai's letter also asks for $65 million to fund broadband data mapping efforts and $2 billion to help small US carriers replace gear made by Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE. While those funding requests are less directly tied to the coronavirus pandemic and follow two recently enacted laws on those matters, Chairman Pai said they've taken on new urgency amid a national emergency. But Democrats, who have placed a premium on addressing the digital Homework Gap in recent days, may want more money than the $50 million Chairman Pai is floating.

This is a war. And in war, strategy is important. Learning from experience from around the world, we recognize a third phase of the Covid-19 response: suppression of episodic outbreaks. In this new third phase, extensive testing and alert clinical systems can identify cases and clusters promptly, intervene extensively and suppress spread before widespread societal harms occur. There are five priorities essential for successful implementation of the third phase of this strategy: 1) Extensive testing and contact tracing, 2) Prepare for health care to surge safely, 3) Preserve health and routine health care functions, 4) Learn intensively, and 5) Adapt to a new normal. The Covid-19 pandemic will change our world forever. Until it is controlled, we will all need to change how we wash our hands, cover our coughs, greet others and how close we come to others. We will rethink the need for meetings and conferences. We will need broadband for all as a public utility like mail or water. We will need to support the vulnerable, even if only because their illness can risk our health.

[Dr. Tom Frieden is the former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and former commissioner of the New York City Health Department. He is currently president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a global non-profit initiative funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and part of the global non-profit Vital Strategies.]

Over the long term, we are better off with as much experimentation and as many leaders as possible, not only to spur the kinds of innovations that will protect us from the virus (vaccines, treatments, cheaper and better medical equipment) but also to guide our transition to a very different world. All of this innovation will require universal access to fast, affordable broadband. Our government has an obligation to provide public education; it must now provide the broadband to make that education possible. It can certainly be done, but the government will have to better regulate private internet service providers and move to more accountable municipally owned internet service utilities, like the one that offers the nation’s fastest broadband.

[Dr. Slaughter is the chief executive of New America]

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumental (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA),  Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) wrote a letter urging the Administration to waive phone charges for incarcerated people to help families and loved ones remain in contact during the pandemic. As in-person visits at federal prisons have been suspended during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Senators also called on Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal to allow for confidential phone calls or video conferencing and email communications with legal counsel for the duration of BOP’s suspension of in-person visits at federal prisons. Currently, calls can cost up to 25 cents per minute in addition to fees charged each call, and calls are monitored by prison officials.