Right Now, Congress has a Historic Opportunity to Close the Digital Divide

A recent webinar with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai shines some light on the agency’s plan to bridge the digital divide through policies that enhance and continue to build out America’s broadband networks over the next several months. This is a goal that the Hispanic Technology & Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP) has long advocated for to ensure Latino communities nationwide can participate in economic, educational, and social opportunities tied to robust internet access.

Now more than ever, Americans need a high-speed, resilient broadband network. The COVID-19 pandemic has made high-speed internet a necessity—for us to connect with loved ones, access education and attend classes, and stay connected to our jobs through video conferencing and more.

Investing in widening our nation’s broadband footprint now can help ensure equal access for historically underserved communities, who have been the hardest hit by the dual public health and economic consequences of the pandemic. Expanded internet access will not only be necessary to expedite our economic recovery, but vital for saving lives 

During the ongoing public health crisis, internet traffic jumped 27 percent. While U.S. networks have performed well under the soaring demand, the pandemic has also exposed some of America’s most pressing issues when it comes to ensuring universal broadband service. Many communities—particularly lower-income, minority, and rural ones—still do not have sufficient access to high-speed internet. In fact, according to the FCC, roughly 18 million people in America lack broadband service, a figure that includes at least one-fifth of rural Americans.

For poor, underserved communities, the problem is even worse. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 40 percent of those making less than $30,000 annually lack broadband services at their homes. Pew also found that 15 percent of households with school-age children do not have access to in-home, high-speed internet connections. The digital divide is hindering the way students can learn, making it even harder for children from low-income homes and communities to catch up and get ahead.

It is time to address this issue head-on. Latino communities need Congress to take proactive steps to help meet America’s broadband infrastructure needs by extendings service to historically disconnected communities to the near-limitless resources the internet has to offer.

Congress can start by funding the Broadband DATA Act, legislation that was passed in March 2020 that will help create more accurate maps of where current broadband networks exist so we can direct funding and resources where it is needed most—particularly to low-income and rural communities. 

Congress should also work to modernize the FCC’s Lifeline program, which offers discounted telecommunications services to low-income consumers and households. Modernizing this program is essential in order to ensure that broadband is available to everyone, everywhere -regardless of their zip code or income.

Members of the Latino community – many of whom continue to perform essential work in nearly every sector in communities across the country in the midst of the pandemic– must be given the tools and resources they need to be safe and empowered.  We have all been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but now is not the time to lose sight of the importance of bridging the digital divide so that all Americans can fully benefit from the digital economy and its opportunities. By investing in broadband access, Congress can help secure a stronger future for our students, our businesses, and our communities.