Digital Inclusion Advocates Explore Low-Cost Broadband Options
All stakeholders can pitch in to help low-income Americans get internet access during COVID-19, a Broadband Breakfast webcast was told Monday. "You still have people in Congress who don't believe broadband is essential here," said Public Knowledge Senior Vice President…
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Harold Feld. He wants a federal stimulus bill to include $50 monthly broadband subsidies to every residence, payable directly to ISPs, while residents are advised to shelter in place. He said it would help consumers who received pink slips and rural broadband providers struggling to stay afloat. National Digital Inclusion Alliance Executive Director Angela Siefer said such a plan would help the 18 million without broadband access. She said it would help people stay home to keep from spreading the virus. Delano Squires, program manager for Connect.DC, warned against relying too much on the federal government, which "can put states in a very vulnerable position." Public schools, libraries, community colleges and other anchor institutions should keep Wi-Fi open to the public even though most of those facilities are closed, said Jeff Sural, director of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology's Broadband Infrastructure Office. The American Library Association is encouraging members to do so. In a public notice Monday in docket 13-184, the Wireline Bureau clarified schools and libraries that accept E-rate support can open Wi-Fi networks for public use on their campuses while they're closed during the outbreak.