Senate begins debate on $550 billion infrastructure package

Congress has concluded it’s time to do something about our crumbling infrastructure and lack of quality Netflix speeds. The Senate reached a deal Wednesday to begin debate on a massive infrastructure package.

The Senate passed the test vote on the $550 billion bill 67–32, with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats to clear the first hurdle of the process.

In addition to investments in critical infrastructure (think: roads and bridges, clean energy, and public transit), the bill lasers in on the Biden administration’s plan to provide 100% of America with broadband coverage.

Follow the $$$: The version of the bill to be debated allocates $65 billion to increase broadband coverage. Even though that falls short of the $100 billion for broadband Biden originally proposed in the American Jobs Plan, the White House says it would still be significant, comparing it to the “​​historic effort to provide electricity to every American nearly one hundred years ago.

• The bill requires telecoms to offer an affordable plan to low-income families and boost competition in areas underserved by internet providers.
• The bill also carves out rules for a Digital Equity Act, which seeks to end digital redlining and help low-income families access the internet.

Bottom line: If the bill makes it through both chambers, it could help bridge the digital divide in the US. A Pew Research report from June found that almost 25% of Americans lack home broadband at all and some with internet lack the 25 mbps connection the FCC considers to be the bare minimum for “high-speed internet.”

With the pandemic keeping most of us tied down to video calls, gaming, and streaming, the importance of quality internet that can do those high data transfers is more crucial than ever.—JM