In a roundtable discussion at the Energy Innovation Center in the Hill District, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle and Deputy U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Graves touted the bill passed by the Senate this week as a once-in-a-generation investment in affordable broadband access that will put the country one step closer to connecting all of its people.
“Parents should never be put in a position ever again where they have to choose which child gets to attend school on a given day because they only have enough coverage for one person to access the internet or only have one device, or they can only pay for that one device to access it,” Mr. Graves told the panelists, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.
Accessing the internet isn’t only a problem in rural America, where — in many places — broadband capabilities haven’t even been installed, the politicians said. It’s also impacting urban areas, where low-income families can’t afford the services and equipment. Mark Stuckey, chief technology officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools, said they gave hotspots and coupons to every family that asked for help connecting to the internet for remote learning but “not everyone asked for it,” he said.
That’s why the infrastructure package is important, Mr. Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said. Mr. Doyle, in an interview after the event, said members of his House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology made it clear to colleagues that affordability was a key issue and not just broadband capability. He added that he was surprised by the amount of money in the Senate bill for broadband — $65 billion — and is excited about what kind of impact it can have.
But the bill still faces an uncertain road in the Democrat-controlled House, where progressives have said they are unhappy with parts of the $1 trillion package.
Mr. Doyle said he anticipates a “lively discussion” in his caucus but urged them to work together to “get something done.”
“When you have an all or nothing attitude, you most likely get nothing you rarely get all,” Mr. Doyle said, echoing other moderates in his caucus who have asked for a standalone vote on the $1 trillion plan.
Mr. Graves said lawmakers over the past two years have seen the challenges of not having access to affordable high-speed internet.
“I think maybe, for once, we have bipartisan members who are seeing eye to eye on this because they’re hearing it from their constituents back home,” Mr. Graves said.
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