President Biden announced the Vice Presiden Harris would take the lead on the issue during his first address to a slimmed-down joint session of Congress, where he touted his proposal to create new jobs through investment in expanding Internet access. Biden said his Americans Jobs Plan, which includes $100 billion for broadband expansion, will ensure that rural Americans who still don’t have access to fast Internet connections can get online.

“It’s going to help our kids and business succeed in the 21st century economy,” Biden said. “And I’m asking the vice president to lead this effort, if she will, because I know it will get done.”

Bringing more Americans online has long been a goal for the Democratic Party, but the subject has taken on greater urgency during the pandemic as people have grown more reliant on the Internet to participate in daily life, from virtual school to telemedicine appointments. Biden’s push for record-breaking broadband funding follows recent stimulus bills, which included billions to bring more students online and help low income Americans pay their Internet bills.

“Putting the Vice President in charge of the administration’s broadband efforts shows that the President considers closing the digital divide of utmost importance,” said Gigi Sohn, a Georgetown Law Institute for Technology & Policy distinguished fellow and former counselor to Democratic Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler. 

More at The Washington Post.