Biden champions $42B investment in fast internet: ‘Ambitious for a great nation’

President Joe Biden Launches “Investing in America” Tour with Focus on Expanding Internet Access

President Joe Biden kicked off the latest phase of his “Investing in America” tour on Monday with an engaging speech that highlighted the importance of expanding internet access. Joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden announced a staggering $42 billion investment to build infrastructure for faster and wider-ranging internet across the country.

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“Today, internet access is just as essential as electricity or water,” emphasized Biden. “We’re taking a significant step towards internet for all by allocating over $40 billion to be distributed in all 50 states, ensuring high-speed internet reaches places where it is currently unavailable or too slow.”

The White House draws parallels between this program and the rural electrification projects initiated during the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration, predicting similar transformative outcomes for people in rural areas. This new initiative has been aptly named the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

According to a fact sheet released by the White House, more than 8.5 million households still lack access to high-speed internet, which has become a necessity for full participation in the economy.

Joining Biden and Harris at the event was Jeff Say, a father of three who has faced challenges in accessing internet services in rural Virginia.

“We have to drive our children to my workplace, my wife’s school, or our county library to complete projects or homework assignments,” Say shared. “Internet access has become an integral part of every aspect of our daily lives.”

Similar to last year, Biden will embark on a nationwide tour to deliver speeches on infrastructure investments, accompanied by Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, and other administration officials.

The ultimate goal, as outlined by the White House, is to ensure that every American has access to high-speed internet by 2030.

“I promised to be a president for all Americans, regardless of their voting preferences or their stance on the infrastructure law,” Biden affirmed. “These investments will benefit all Americans, and we will not leave anyone behind.”

Furthermore, the president emphasized his contrasting approach to past administrations’ “trickle-down economics” as he addressed the broader messaging on the economy.

“Connecting everyone in America to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is an ambitious goal for a great nation, especially one as vast as ours,” Biden declared. “We are well on our way, but we must continue pushing forward. And remember, it has never been a wise decision to bet against America.”

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