Recent federal laws have given state governments enough funding to bring fast and affordable internet service to virtually every home in America. This funding can be used to address all aspects of the digital divide, including:

State Connections was created to help state legislators maximize this opportunity. Join today to discuss broadband issues with your peers and leading experts. We are open to all state legislators and staff, no matter your state, political party, or level of broadband expertise. No cost, no commitment—just a monthly Zoom call.

The Challenge:

Broadband is complicated, expensive, and takes a long time to build.

• For years, there has been insufficient federal funding to support broadband infrastructure in rural and low-income areas. What funding was available was often used on technologies that are now out-of-date, or it was entrusted to providers that never built the promised networks. As a result, tens of millions of Americans currently live without broadband.

• States are being given an opportunity to rectify this problem. The federal government is allocating each state historically large sums of money and empowering them to address nearly every facet of the digital divide—access, affordability, and adoption. However, money alone will not solve the problem. States must first address policy issues that have historically prevented money from being used effectively—broadband definitions, staffing levels, permitting and related issues, sustainability of funds, and oversight.