Biden promises broadband for all in $2 trillion infrastructure plan

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

President Joe Biden on Wednesday is returning to Pittsburgh, where he kicked off his run for the presidency in 2019, to take the wraps off his next big legislative priority -- a massive plan to modernize US infrastructure.

The infrastructure package, which will cost $2 trillion over eight years, includes money for a wide range of projects, from improving and maintaining roads, bridges and waterways to spending $100 billion over the next eight years to deploy broadband throughout rural America, according to the White House on Wednesday. Biden's plan would also help subsidize the cost of broadband for low-income individuals in an effort to make broadband more affordable.

"Broadband internet is the new electricity," the White House said. "It is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected."

The White House fact sheet detailing aspects of the plan highlights the fact that more than 30 million Americans live in areas without any access to broadband. And in urban and suburban markets where broadband is available, it's often too expensive. This reality hits minority families harder than white families, creating digital inequities. The coronavirus pandemic, which led to shutdowns across the country, made the issues even more apparent, especially for students who struggled to connect to the internet for distance learning.

https://www.cnet.com/news/biden-promises-broadband-for-all-in-2-trillion-infrastructure-plan/

[catrose]

1. Yes pleeeeeeeeaaaazzzzzzze

[FlyingPiggy]

2. I don't have enough words to fully express how much I love Biden and his administration.

He is absolutely right. Broadband is very much the new electricity. We and all our privileged friends and family do well. But I am fully aware of all the problems kids of lower economic status had in obtaining internet in order to do their work for school. The glaring disparity was shockingly embarrassing during this pandemic. One silver lining to the pandemic is that it made the disparities in our society more obvious and hopefully, we will take this as a sign to not only be better, but do better.

[Throck]

3. Given the Texas snowstorm and Flint Michigan lead water pipe.

What are the advantages of broadband? I think a baseline needs to be established for what people actually need? Education and low income for essential information exchange a priority. Gaming, entertainment and video streaming is not a priority.

[gratuitous]

5. You know that internet access is more than gaming, entertainment and video streaming, right?

One of the glaring systemic inequities the pandemic has exposed is how many communities are badly underserved for internet access. Families without internet couldn't participate in remote learning or had insufficient experience with being online that their children (usually at or below the poverty line) fell even further behind. The same goes for underserved communities that had to access government and health care services.

Yeah, some people would use broadband for gaming and entertainment, and we should all be righteously horrified by that. But that's no reason to treat internet access any differently from any other utility.

[Buckeyeblue]

6. You can't get a job without internet

You can't monitor your bank account. With slow mail it's difficult to pay bills. Buy things at competitive prices. I could go on and on. Internet has become a necessity.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. More on this

Biden targets $100B for universal broadband access in $2T plan

U.S. President Joe Biden outlined a plan to allocate $100 billion to fund broadband improvements with the goal of achieving 100% coverage by 2030, as part of a newly unveiled $2 trillion infrastructure package.

Among other things, the legislation would prioritize construction of “future proof” broadband infrastructure, as well as networks owned by “providers with less pressure to turn profits,” including local governments, non-profit organizations and co-operatives.

It would also require internet providers to “clearly disclose” pricing, as part of a bid to remove obstacles that prevent municipally-owned providers and co-ops “from competing on an even playing field” with private companies. Finally, it would seek to reduce the cost of broadband to boost adoption in both rural and urban areas.

A press release issued by the White House noted more than 35% of rural citizens in the country lack access to broadband service offering “minimally acceptable speeds,” which the government defines as 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.

https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/biden-targets-universal-broadband-access-2t-plan