Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, wants to know how much money in broadband funding is being distributed during the pandemic. He wrote this week to three key federal departments — Education, Agriculture and Treasury — that are overseeing money for various connectivity efforts.
“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of broadband connectivity,” said Wicker. “Lockdowns and social distancing measures forced a broad range of everyday activities online, including work, education, and health care. But approximately 14.5 million Americans still lack access to a broadband connection and have not been able to engage in these activities remotely.”
“To address this issue, Congress has spent billions of dollars to fund multiple programs across the federal government that support the expansion of broadband connectivity and services to unserved and underserved locations,” Wicker wrote. “It is critical that both Congress and the agencies ensure that these funds are distributed in a way that avoids overbuilding, duplication of funding, and wasteful spending.”
Wicker specifically asked for an accounting of broadband efforts contained in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The Department of Education received funding through all three legislative packages, with flexibility to allocate the funds as needed to help schools reopen safely or facilitate the transition to distance learning. In addition, the FCC received $7.1 billion for distance learning. Wicker seeks details on coordination between the two agencies.
The ReConnect program at the Department of Agriculture received $100 million from the CARES Act and an additional $635 million in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for rural broadband deployment. ReConnect was an existing program prior to the pandemic, but received supplemental funding through the relief packages.
The Treasury was responsible for administering billions of dollars in relief funds, including $150 billion from the CARES Act and $360 billion from the American Rescue Plan. These funds were to be used by state and local governments to cover costs incurred as a result of the pandemic, as well as for infrastructure and capital initiatives. Broadband infrastructure and remote healthcare and education were among the eligible uses.
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