"In my town halls across Oregon, I've seen first-hand how reliable broadband can lift up rural towns. And I've seen how rural and lower-income communities without first-class infrastructure are being left behind," Wyden said. "Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Clyburn's legislation is a strong package that would ensure all Americans can depend on broadband for critical access to work, education, healthcare and everything else. I'm also pleased they included an additional $6 billion for the Emergency Broadband Benefit I helped craft, to keep working Americans online."
The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act will invest over $94 billion to build high-speed broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities to close the digital divide and ensure Americans have Internet connectivity to learn and work from home, access telehealth services, and stay connected to loved ones.
The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C. Along with Wyden, the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act is cosponsored by Senators Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Ed Markey, D-Mass., Jacky Rosen, D-N.V., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. In the House, Majority Whip Clyburn was joined by members of the House Rural Broadband Task Force.
The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act is endorsed by Public Knowledge, Free Press, National Consumer Law Center, New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute, Consumer Reports, the Schools, Health, Libraries, and Broadband Coalition (SHLB), Common Cause, Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, Leadership Conference, Access Now, Electronic Frontier Foundation, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, National Education Association, National Defense Industrial Association, Communications Workers of America, and North America's Building Trades Union.
"This pandemic has made clear that broadband is no longer nice-to-have, it's need-to-have for everyone, everywhere," said Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting FCC Chairwoman. "Kudos to the Rural Broadband Task Force for recognizing this fundamental truth and developing a plan to connect us all. Working together we can solve the digital divide and give everyone a fair shot at Internet age success."
"The nation's libraries — 117,000 strong — have long been an essential strand in our country's digital safety net," said Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., President of the American Library Association. "Every day libraries see the repercussions of a persistent digital divide and provide millions of Americans not only access to the internet, but also help develop the skills to navigate increasingly sophisticated online services and resources. The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act tackles all sides of the digital divide: access, affordability, and adoption, and digital skills. The American Library Association looks forward to working with Rep. Clyburn and the Rural Broadband Task Force to move forward the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act."
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