There are 34 states and territories signed on to take part in the Biden-Harris administration’s Internet for All initiative.
The goal is to invest $45 billion to bring affordable, reliable high-speed internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade, according to a May 18 news release. The Internet for All programs are focused on building internet infrastructure, teaching digital skills and providing necessary technology to ensure that everyone in America, including communities of color, rural communities and older Americans, have the access and skills they need to feel a part of today’s growing technological dependent society.
“It is absolutely critical that states join our efforts to deliver on access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the release. “As more and more states come on board, we are happy to deliver on the promise that Americans across the country will no longer be held back by a lack of high-speed internet access. Joining together, we can ensure every American will have access to technologies that allow them to attend class, start a small business, visit with their doctor, and participate in the modern economy.”
Since publicly announcing the initiative, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration added representatives from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, United States Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin have all indicated they plan to participate, according to the release.
To take part in the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, states and other eligible entities are required to submit a letter of intent and a planning funds budget, which will unlock up to $5 million in planning funds and allow states to begin creating their five-year action plan, the release reported. Participating states and territories will have direct support from NTIA staff. Every state or territory taking part in the program is guaranteed a minimum $100 million allocation, with additional funding decisions determined based on coverage maps from the Federal Communications Commission.
“Generations before us brought electricity to rural America and built the interstate highways,” said Alan Davidson, assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. “Our generation’s task is to connect all Americans online. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, states are now ‘signing on’ to this initiative to promote Internet access and adoption so that everyone in America has a chance to thrive in the modern economy.”
