On Friday, November 5, Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes $65 billion to support broadband deployment and adoption. President Biden is anticipated to sign the bill into law next week, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday.
Breaking down the legislation, it provides:
- $42.5 billion for the creation of a Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment competitive grant program through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- $14 billion in subsidies for low-income consumers to connect to broadband through the Affordable Connectivity Benefit Program, which extends but reduces the existing, pandemic-created Emergency Broadband Benefit
- $2.75 billion for digital equity grant programs ($1.25 billion for states and $1.5 billion for individual groups, coalitions and communities)
- $2.5 billion for a connecting communities broadband program
- $2 billion for a tribal connectivity program
- $1 billion for middle-mile broadband infrastructure projects
According to Senator Patty Murray, of the $65 billion total investment in broadband, Washington State will receive at least $100 million to expand broadband, including “providing access to the at least 241,000 people in the state who currently lack it.”
We are excited about this historic investment in broadband and look forward to helping our clients leverage these funds to bridge the digital divide in Washington State.