Last night, a bipartisan group of senators introduced an infrastructure package that includes an estimated $65 billion dollar broadband proposal designed to “bring affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband to every American.” Public Knowledge commends the bipartisan group and the Biden administration for taking this important step to narrow the digital divide by funding more broadband deployment and working to make broadband affordable for everyone, but especially for low-income consumers.

Public Knowledge welcomes Nicholas P. Garcia, Policy Counsel, to our team to focus on net neutrality, closing the digital divide, and broadband affordability.

Today, Public Knowledge joined Consumer Reports and more than 40 public interest and consumer groups in a national broadband affordability initiative to fight for quality, affordable broadband for everyone. The “Broadband Together” campaign urges consumers to share their internet bills at broadbandtogether.org to help analyze the cost, quality, and speeds being delivered to communities across the country.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission launched the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, a $3.2 billion federal initiative to provide qualifying households $50 discounts on their internet service bills and an opportunity to receive a discount on a computer, laptop, or tablet. The program created by Congress subsidizes broadband and device payments for low-income consumers or families hit hard by the pandemic, including students and the unemployed.

Today, President Joe Biden unveiled a massive infrastructure package that dedicates $100 billion to “bring[ing] affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband to every American.”

Today, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the “Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act” in both the U.S. House and Senate to invest $100 billion to connect more people. Public Knowledge commends Rep. Clyburn, Sen. Klobuchar, and the House Rural Broadband Task Force for working to provide high-speed broadband access to more families.

Last night, the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could potentially leverage spectrum sharing technology to help close the digital divide.

Last week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai circulated a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could potentially leverage spectrum sharing technology to help close the digital divide. Adding the 12 GHz band to the agency’s “5G FAST Plan” would make an additional 500 MHz of contiguous spectrum available for two-way fixed and mobile 5G wireless broadband services, while protecting incumbent satellite uses (including satellite broadband) from harmful interference.

Today, Public Knowledge joins 39 other public interest, government, civil rights, labor, higher education, and rural advocacy groups in a letter urging Congress to offer a federal broadband subsidy in forthcoming COVID-19 stimulus packages.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously adopted an Order reclaiming the 45 MHz spectrum band from the auto industry in order to help close the digital divide.