White House unveils $42B plan to boost internet access.

The Biden Administration’s $42 Billion Plan to Connect Every American to High-Speed Internet

The Biden administration has announced an ambitious plan to bring high-speed broadband to every household and small business in the United States by 2030. In a fact sheet released on June 26, the White House emphasized the importance of high-speed internet access in today’s world, stating that it is no longer a luxury but a necessity for many Americans.

According to the document, more than 8.5 million households and small businesses currently lack access to high-speed internet, while millions more struggle with limited or unreliable options. To address this issue, the government will allocate $42 billion in federal funding under the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program.

State Allocations and Funding

The Department of Commerce unveiled the funding for states, territories, and the District of Columbia, with awards ranging from $27 million to over $3 billion depending on location. Each state will receive a minimum funding of $107 million. Notably, Texas and California, the two most populous states, will receive the highest funding amounts at $3.1 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively.

With these allocations and other investments, the Biden administration aims to ensure that all 50 states, DC, and the territories have the necessary resources to connect every resident and small business to reliable, affordable high-speed internet by 2030.

Implementation and Challenges

States are expected to submit initial plans outlining how they will utilize the funding by the end of the year. However, the distribution of funds will not begin until these plans are approved by the Department of Commerce, which could take until 2025. Once approved, states can start awarding grants to telecommunications companies, electric cooperatives, and other broadband providers to build the necessary infrastructure.

It is worth noting that broadband companies have been hesitant to provide access to low-population, rural communities due to the high costs involved and the limited number of potential subscribers. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of broadband access, especially for students forced into online schooling.

In a memo obtained by news outlets, senior White House advisers Anita Dunn and Mike Donilon compared this broadband expansion effort to President Franklin Roosevelt’s initiative in 1936 to bring electricity to rural America.