Today, Senator Amy Klobuchar and 8 Democratic Senate colleagues introduced the “Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act,” a bill that would, among other things, address broadband affordability, infrastructure, price transparency and competition. The bill is the Senate version of the House bill of the same name introduced on June 24, and adds a number of provisions, including several related to telehealth, connectivity for college students in need and the FCC’s Lifeline Program.

The following statement should be attributed to Gigi Sohn:

The Senate version of the “Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act” includes all of the critical provisions of the House version, but goes further to address this country’s gaping digital divide. Like the House bill, it addresses the twin problems of broadband affordability and lack of network infrastructure and seeks to promote competition in a consolidated market by preferencing open access networks and repealing state laws that prohibit communities from building their own broadband networks. In addition, the Senate bill would expand the FCC’s Rural Health Care program to provide funding for telehealth programs in  urban as well as rural areas, and would create a fund to ensure that higher education students in need have access to robust broadband during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The pandemic has laid bare the need for every American to have robust, high speed broadband Internet access at home. Yet over 140 million Americans still are without a service that is essential to full participation in our economy, our education system, our culture and our democracy. It is long past time for Congress to act. Thanks to Senator Klobuchar and her Senate colleagues for co-sponsoring this vital legislation. The Senate should pass this bill without delay.