June 26 (UPI) — On Monday, President Joe Biden is expected to unveil a major investment of $40 billion in federal funds, aimed at expanding high-speed Internet connectivity to all corners of the United States by 2030.
This landmark announcement will initiate a three-week-long “investing in America” campaign, during which government officials will make a series of public appearances to highlight the ongoing effects of Biden’s legislative agenda, including significant infrastructure projects across the nation.
According to the White House, an estimated 8.5 million homes and businesses in the country currently lack Internet access.
The new funding will be directed to states with the greatest need through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program. This program is a major provision of Biden’s $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, offering each state the potential to receive $100 million or more from the government to improve connectivity.
The specific amounts that each qualifying state may receive will be disclosed by the White House.
To access these funds, states must submit detailed plans to the Commerce Department by December, outlining how the money will be utilized.
Once the state and local governments have submitted their plans, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin distributing the funds starting next spring.
It’s important to note that states will not receive the full amount of funding immediately. In this first round of payouts, the government plans to allocate only 20% of the infrastructure funds, with a phased rollout that will continue until the end of 2025.
The administration intends to allocate the funds based on updated broadband coverage maps, which have seen over 1 million new coverage locations added across the country in the past year.
Officials from the Biden administration drew parallels between these efforts and the transformative actions of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the era of the Great Depression.
“Just as Franklin Delano Roosevelt brought electricity to every American home through the Rural Electrification Act, President Biden’s announcement is part of a larger initiative to directly deliver investments, jobs, and opportunities to working and middle-class families across the nation,” stated the White House in a press release on Monday.
Earlier this month, the government unveiled $930 million in new infrastructure projects aimed at bridging the digital divide and expanding high-speed Internet infrastructure across 35 states and Puerto Rico.
The White House has also launched the Online For All campaign, which aims to assist individuals and families, particularly those in economically disadvantaged areas, in affording Internet access. This campaign involves collaboration between grassroots organizations, corporate entities, and the Department of Education, as research has shown that approximately half of eligible Americans are unaware of available programs.
In February, Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the importance of high-speed Internet as a basic necessity and announced a $175 million fund dedicated to ensuring Internet access at Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.
Overall, the Biden administration is committed to investing over $90 billion to expand affordable Internet access, with an additional $25 billion provided through the American Rescue Plan to enhance connectivity in economically challenged regions.
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