The infrastructure bill moving through Congress requires internet service providers to offer a low-cost option, sparking opposition from Senate Commerce Committee Minority Leader Roger Wicker (R-MS) who said the mandate may lead to broadband rate regulation. The measure will require funding recipients to offer a low-cost plan. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration would vet low-cost broadband plans for aspects such as cost and speed of service. The low-cost measure could help families that don’t qualify for company programs yet are strapped for funds. The bill would have states distribute the funds to partners entrusted to build new networks, and it is their joint proposal that would go for approval to NTIA. The bill includes language forbidding the NTIA from setting rates. The infrastructure bill also would create a program to help more low-income households access the internet. Sen Susan Collins (R-Maine) coauthored the provision with Sen Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). The bill would give people with low incomes $30 per month to pay for broadband and it would not set prices for low-cost access.

This is a historic time for broadband investment. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the high costs of being offline. In response, Congress, over the past year, passed two laws—the Consolidated Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan—with an unprecedented amount of funding devoted to promoting digital equity. Communities should be engaged now to help craft long-term connectivity goals and ensure that diverse voices are part of the discussion—and that’s our job. Here’s a sampling of Benton Institute resources that explain what federal broadband funds are available, assist state and local leaders to meet connectivity challenges, recognize broadband champions, and promote digital equity.