Emerging from this crisis, we call on the federal government to act on three priorities that will get America back on its feet. With investments in broadband access, support for the creation of domestic supply chains and requirements for Congress to meet its constitutional budgetary obligations, we believe that the United States can once again find transformation in a time of crisis. First, we believe that it is time for the United States to close the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to every family, regardless of their ZIP code. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted how critical broadband access is to business, health care providers and to American life in the 21st century. These investments are important for children who depend on remote learning, for patients using telehealth and for the many low-income and rural Americans who lack access to reliable internet service. The bottom line is that broadband is essential for participating in the American economy and staying connected to your community. 

[Reps. Horn and Fitzpatrick are members of the congressional Problem Solvers Caucus]

Democratic congressional staffers are signaling fresh optimism that some money for broadband will make it into another coronavirus relief package long mulled on Capitol Hill. Republicans are “proceeding politically a little more cautiously right now” in deference to GOP leadership, but “we know privately that there are Republicans that would be very supportive of spending more money on E-Rate or Lifeline or Rural Healthcare,” said Joey Wender, senior policy adviser to Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA). Those Federal Communications Commission subsidy programs are aimed at helping to get more Americans digitally connected. Broadband “is going to be in the game for sure,” Wender added. He predicted congressional leaders will ultimately determine “a total number” for how much money to allocate for expanding access to broadband internet “and that’s going to have to get split up” among competing priorities. One partisan divide is over whether to funnel money to these existing FCC subsidy programs or to stand up new pilot initiatives. Republicans have favored the latter, saying pilots could deliver money quicker and with more flexibility (as Congress did Congress when it designated $200 million for an FCC telehealth program in March’s CARES Act). However, Wender and Asad Ramzanali, a staffer for Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), defended the use of traditional commission programs like E-Rate. “The fear is if we start creating new programs, it just takes so long for those to get up and running,” cautioned Wender.

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau announces that Eutelsat SA, Intelsat US LLC, SES Americom, Claro S.A. f/k/a Star One S.A. (Claro), and Telesat Canada have committed to clear the 3.7-4.0 GHz band on the accelerated timeline described in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order. Together, these satellite operators have accepted, in aggregate, relocation payments that exceed the minimum threshold (80%) established by the FCC and, therefore, accelerated clearing of this band has been triggered. Specifically, these companies must first clear 120 megahertz of spectrum in 46 Partial Economic Areas by December 5, 2021. In a second phase, they must clear the lower 120 megahertz in the remaining PEAs, plus an additional 180 megahertz nationwide, by December 5, 2023. If the companies fulfill these commitments, they will be eligible for up to $9.7 billion in accelerated relocation payments plus reasonable relocation costs, paid for by the new flexible use licensees. Had the satellite operators not chosen to accept accelerated relocation payments, the deadline for clearing the lower 300 megahertz of the band would have been December 5, 2025.