Letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer - Reps. Sewell and Trone Lead 83 Members in Urging Congressional Leadership to Allocate Over $86 Billion for Broadband Expansion in a Future COVID-19 Relief Package

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer,

Thank you for the inclusion of broadband and telehealth provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support American workers, students, and patients who face being disconnected from essential services and information during this crisis. The lack of internet access was already a problem for millions of Americans, and the COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated the situation.

Over the last several weeks, our offices have heard countless stories from our constituents who are unable to telework, support their children's virtual education, consult with doctors, connect with loved ones, or receive essential services because of the lack of broadband connectivity or affordability in their community. Over ten million Americans applied for unemployment insurance in March, with jobless numbers likely to increase. Schools across the country have closed and cancelled classes to slow the spread of COVID-19. We therefore believe that future stimulus packages should support the deployment of secure and resilient broadband, provide hotspots for students to close the homework gap and allow for distance learning, and expand access and affordability for unserved and underserved communities with sufficient speed and data that reflects American families' increased reliance on internet access.

We believe that in the response to the COVID-19 crisis an overall investment of $86 billion is needed. This would expedite high-speed broadband deployment and expand funding to ensure that Americans who need broadband service can remain connected during this public health crisis and recovery. This includes expanded service for low-income consumers that meet the demands of telework, telehealth and telelearning. For instance, two tools ready to address these issues are the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) existing Lifeline and E-Rate educational connectivity programs.

The FCC's Lifeline program serves some of the most vulnerable individuals and the economic downturn is certain to put additional pressure on the program. We believe supplemental funding to the Lifeline program -- including emergency Lifeline subsidy and programmatic changes -- would help individuals facing the greatest barriers remain connected to vital communication services.

Setting up and successfully utilizing distance learning tools can be a challenge in the best of times, but the Coronavirus has placed an added urgency in ensuring all students can connect to digital education resources. We believe an emergency expansion of the E-Rate educational connectivity programs is needed to help schools purchase hotspots and hotspot plans to loan to students that do not have a home Internet connection or cannot access school and community facilities (libraries, recreation centers).

While we employ interim measures to address the immediate need and bridge the connectivity gap in the short-term, we cannot wait to invest in high-speed broadband deployment necessary to reach every unserved and underserved American family, hospital, school and small business. This funding must increase investments in Rural Utility Service (RUS) programs like the ReConnect Program, Telecommunication Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees, Community Connect Grants, and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants. If we fail to invest now, millions of American will be disconnected from the economic recovery on the other side of this crisis.

We urge coordination among federal agencies to streamline the application process for assistance from federal programs and to ensure broadband-related support is being administered in an efficient, technology-neutral, and financially sustainable manner.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it increasingly clear that having access to high speed broadband is a necessity. We must invest in expanding affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access in the next emergency relief package. We thank you for your attention to this critical issue and looking forward to working in tandem to bring broadband to communities that are in desperate need of this essential tool for life in the 21st Century.

Sincerely,

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