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1 1 (January 31, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govefey0001 and id is 1 raw text is: a I f4~se~wch $ervk~ ~r~foir~iri~ (h~ I~~kL~s~4v# ~ ~ ~ 4 January 31, 2022 The Broadband Digital Divide: What Comes Next for Congress? As clas srooms, workplaces, and social activities migrated online during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the digital divide-the g ap between those who have access to broadband internet and those who do not- became increasingly apparent. The 116th and 117th Congress passed a number of bills that included provisions aimed at addressing the digital divide. Broadband Funding to Address the Digital Divide Congress passed fourCOVID-19 era bills that include broadband appropriations. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136), which provided $100 million for broadband programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA, 2021; P.L. 116-260), which provided $6.201 billion to broadband programs at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and USDA. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2), which provided $7.171 billion to broadband programs at the FCC. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58), which provided $64.4 billion for broadband programs at the FCC, NTIA, and USDA. The broadband appropriations in the IIJA are the largest federal bro adband investment in history. The act also attempts to address universalbroadband access andlong- standing goals of the consumer advocacy community (e.g., consumer labels for broadband service plans). Details on broadband funding canbe found in the reports listed in AdditionalCRS Resources. Federal Agencies Roles in Addressing the Digital Divide The FCC, NTIA, and USDA administer multiple programs addressing broadband deployment and adoption and digital equity. Some are ongoing programs that receive annual appropriations, while others are newly established and funded. Each agency plays a different role in addressing the digital divide. FCC The FCC is tasked with providing universal access to telecommunications services through its Universal Service Fund (USF) programs, which focus on increased access to high-speedinternet service forlow-income consumers and consumers in underserved areas, as well as underserved schools, libraries, andhealth care facilities. All four USF programs are funded by fees on telecommunications carriers, not through appropriations. Congress has provided appropriations for non-USF FCC programs. For example, the IIJA appropriated $14.2 billion for a new Affordable Broadband Connectivity Program. NTIA The NTIA's programs andpolicymaking focus on expanding U.S. broadband access and adoption. The last major grant programNTIA administered was the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, an approximately $4 billion grant programfocused on deploying broadband infrastructure. In the IIJA, Congress provided NTIA with $48.2billion for new grant programs focusing on broadband grants to states and digital equity. USDA Four USDA programs provide loans and/or grants to fund the construction andimprovementof broadband networks. Unlike the FCC and NTIA, USDA programs focus only on rural areas. In the IIJA, Congress provided $1.926 billion for the existing ReConnect Programand $74 million for the existing Rural Broadband Program. What Comes Next? Policy and Oversight Considerations for Congress It may take years to see measurable results fromthese newly established broadband programs-specifically the deploymentprograms. In many cases, deploying fiber requires subsurface digging to bury conduit and physically connecting each household. It may also require providers to acquire rights-of-way, which canbe a lengthy process. Given the size ofrecent investments in broadband, the heterogeneity and complexity of the programs, and involvement of multiple federal agencies, Congress may conduct oversightto assess each agencies' ability to manage new broadband programs to address the digital divide. Further, Congress in IIJA gave NTIA a major role in closing the digital divide; the agency may be aprimary focus of Congress's oversight efforts. In addition to its review of agency operations and use of appropriated funds, Congress may consider: how to measure progress toward closing thedigital divide, whether to provide additional funding forbroadband deployment, and whether to have the FCCupdate its National Broadband Plan. ttps:/'crs reports~congress.gc

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