A new report released today by the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) offers new solutions to closing the connectivity gap and expanding access to broadband across the country. The report, titled “A Radically Pragmatic Agenda to Connect Rural America,” is authored by Dr. Michael Mandel and Elliott Long.
“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to finally connect all of rural America, but only if we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. It’s time for the Biden administration and Congress to work together to bring broadband to unserved communities across America and reach the president’s target of 100% connectivity. By following our pragmatic roadmap, the United States can finally achieve this goal,” said report authors Dr. Michael Mandel and Elliott Long.
The report outlines the main issues impeding access to broadband in rural areas, and provides radically pragmatic solutions to cut government red tape and target broadband regulations so the industry is more efficient. The Progressive Policy Institute’s roadmap includes these key principles:
History shows us that government programs supporting broadband deployment should stay away from funding network overbuilding and focus solely on unserved areas. To achieve the goal of 100% connectivity, Congress needs to increase program transparency and accountability.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress need to make every dollar stretch further by eliminating expensive impediments to rural deployment. These include excess rents for attaching broadband cables to existing utility poles and being forced to bear too much of the share of replacing poles that were already aging.
Government programs supporting broadband deployment should not be bogged down by restrictions and requirements developed for last century’s telephone networks. In particular, Congress should remove the requirement that participating providers be certified as “Eligible Telecommunications Carriers.” This category, dating back to the 1996 Telecommunication Act, discourages providers that are best suited to build in rural areas.
The report also finds America has comparatively made remarkable progress in connecting rural communities. However, gaps remain, and the ongoing pandemic has only brought the consequences of those gaps into sharper focus. The Biden administration must require pro-competitive, innovative, and efficient broadband policies that streamline rural broadband deployment.
Read the full report here:
The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org
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Media Contact: Aaron White – awhite@ppionline.org