The digital divide has continued to grow as new broadband technologies, devices, and applications have evolved with unrelenting speed. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital disparity in…
Internet access is no longer a luxury in American homes, but rather a necessity needed to complete some of the most essential parts of daily life, such as work and school. The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed this to the extreme as many Americans are forced to move to a virtual setting without proper internet access. The lack of access to reliable and affordable broadband internet service affects many rural communities, tribal nations, and underserved populations in America.
While broadband subsidies are available to help cover American household’s internet costs, the White House states that they feel these are temporary solutions to a continuing issue of overpriced internet service.
As the push for internet access grows, states are beginning to recognize the need for certain restrictions to be lifted. Currently, there are varying types of bans and restrictions in place on states to keep municipality-owned providers from operating and competing alongside private providers, such as Comcast Corp. and Verizon.
“The pandemic obviously woke many states up to the essential nature of broadband—31 governors mentioned broadband in their state of the state,” Gigi Sohn, a former FCC official, said. “This really is a prime time to reverse this policy.
Lifting the restrictions set in place is crucial to improving infrastructure and allowing all Americans to have access to broadband service. With the bans continuing to be set in place the digital divide will continue and American people, children, and families will suffer from it.
The 18 states still under restriction include Michigan, Louisiana, Florida, and many more, according to an analysis by Baller Stokes & Lide PC. While those 18 states are restricted there are still 5 other states (Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oregon) that have barriers causing the establishment of municipality broadband service to be unreasonably difficult.
Although some states such as California had their restrictions reversed, nearly half of the states are still restricted. The process of lifting bans and restrictions has been stalled, slow, or just outright failed (Montana 2021) and the process of building infrastructure has been underfunded. This process is falling behind the growing need for broadband access across all the United States.
Infrastructure Proposal to Bring Internet Access to 100% of Americans
American Jobs Plan proposed by the White House administration includes a $100 billion plan to expand broadband internet service making it affordable and accessible to underserved Americans, and eventually 100% of the American people. The plan will override bans and restrictions still in place in states thus allowing municipalities to create municipal broadband internet services that can reach all of the community.
FCC officials are hopeful that municipal networks will play a huge role in expanding service. According to the FCC, 4.4% of Americans do not have access to the internet at the FCC’s standard speeds, and in rural areas, it jumps to 17.3 % of people not serviced at all.
Rural areas with slow speeds and a lack of providers will benefit from the proposed plan the most. While in the end, every single American will have access to affordable broadband service.
The administration states that the plan “prioritizes support for broadband networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and co-operatives—providers with less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities”.
The specifics of the American Jobs Plan are not yet clear, but the plan is said to take place over the course of eight years, and while improving broadband infrastructure, it will also create many jobs for the American people.
The design and coverage of these municipal networks will vary, but city-wide fiber optic networks tend to be favored. A variety of cities across the United States implemented this model such as Chattanooga, TN.
“It’s very similar to what people would get from a cable or telephone company, except better customer service, and better prices generally,” said Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
The White House states funding will come from a $2 trillion tax hike that will take place over the course of 15 years. The proposal also includes funding for roads, schools, manufacturing, and the electrical grid.
Many lawmakers are already assessing the plan. Some stating it needs more, while others feel it is too much. The proposal still needs to pass Congress before it can begin.
