U.S. Government Announces $42 Billion Plan for Nationwide Internet Access by 2030

The U.S. White House has detailed plans for a significant $42 billion investment to enhance high-speed broadband access across the country by 2030. This initiative, part of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, aims to address the current gaps in internet access, as highlighted in a new coverage map released by the Federal Communications Commission.

The allocation of funds will see Texas and California, the most populous states, receiving the highest amounts, with $3.1 billion and $1.9 billion respectively. However, states like Virginia, Alabama, and Louisiana also feature in the top 10 funding recipients, primarily due to their pronounced lack of broadband access.

President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of internet access in today’s economy, equating its necessity to that of electricity or water. The plan ensures that every state will receive at least $107 million to expand broadband infrastructure.

This initiative marks a key phase in Biden’s campaign to showcase the impacts of legislation passed during his term, especially as he prepares for his 2024 re-election bid. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients drew parallels between this effort and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1936 initiative to bring electricity to rural America, highlighting the potential for transformative impact on people’s lives.

An estimated 8.5 million locations in the U.S. currently lack access to broadband connections. The program is designed to incentivize broadband companies, which have historically been hesitant to invest in low-population, rural areas due to high costs and fewer subscribers. The need for broader internet access became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many students into online schooling.

States are expected to submit their initial plans later this year to receive 20 percent of their allocated funding. The completion and finalization of these plans, which may take until 2025, will trigger the release of the remaining funds.

Biden plans to deliver a significant economic speech in Chicago, outlining his “Bidenomics” strategy. This approach focuses on building the economy with an emphasis on the middle class rather than the wealthy. Senior advisers Anita Dunn and Mike Donilon highlighted in a memo to congressional Democrats and allies the administration’s achievements, including the addition of more than 13 million jobs and nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs since Biden took office.

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