Democratic congressmen introduce bill to build broadband in New Deal model

Three Democratic congressmen introduced the New Deal Rural Broadband Act of 2017, legislation to expand high-speed Internet in rural communities across the nation. Introduced by Reps. Huffman (D-CA), Pocan (D-WI), and Nolan (D-MN), the bill would connect every home, business, and school in the country to broadband Internet by relying on the New Deal rural electrification model.

“Across our country, many people still lack basic and reliable access to the internet. Congress must work together to address the connectivity gap and ensure that communities, especially in rural America, are able to stay connected to the 21st Century economy,” said Rep. Pocan. “The New Deal Broadband Act is a comprehensive plan to address broadband connectivity across our nation.”

The legislation would establish a new Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives to coordinate and centralize all Federal rural broadband programs, authorize $20 billion for new broadband infrastructure focused on rural communities, tribal communities, and those without adequate access. It would also establish an inventory of state and federal assets where broadband facility could be constructed and double the Rural Utility Service’s broadband investment funds from $25 million to $50 million annually.

Last week 48 US senators signed a bipartisan letter to President Trump urging him to prioritize policies that will promote the deployment of high-speed, reliable broadband for all. The week before that, Democratic senators released an infrastructure proposal that includes $20 billion for broadband buildout.

Links:

Reps. Huffman, Pocan, and Nolan Introduce New Deal Rural Broadband Act to Close Digital Divide in Rural America (US House of Representatives, Feb. 2, 2017)

48 US senators to Trump: any infrastructure plan must include broadband (Speed Matters, Feb. 3, 2017)

Democratic infrastructure plan includes $20 billion for broadband (Speed Matters, Jan. 26, 2017)

A Blueprint to Rebuild America’s Infrastructure (US Senate Democrats, Jan. 24, 2017)