Broadband internet is critical for education, employment, healthcare, and connecting with friends, family, and the larger world. It is the foundation for our economy—and it enables people to move ahead.
But millions of Americans still cannot get online—because of cost and access. This means millions of students fall behind in school, many older Americans cannot access online healthcare through telehealth solutions, and job seekers and employers have limited options.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) enabled three million households to get online. It was a great start on the path to connecting all of America. But EBB funds will run out.
The Senate recently voted to advance infrastructure legislation—including funding for broadband—to a floor debate. But we’re hearing that some Senators have proposed providing less than $5 billion for a broadband benefit. This simply is not sufficient to close our nation’s broadband gap. It’s critical that Congress make a permanent investment that enables every American to get online, afford base-level computing devices for their home, and learn the skills they need to connect and use technology.
Please email your Senators now to urge them to provide adequate funding for a permanent broadband benefit.
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