[1st-mile-nm] 2021 Infrastructure Bill (Broadband)

[Steve Ross]

I'm zipping along. So far, you seem OK. I have to disentangle the existing
money from the new money in this bill and understand what NTIA has signaled
it will do. The poverty thing is like nesting dolls... still not sure if
the line includes the family size adjustment they way it usually does,
because whole family shares 1 account. Not like food where 5 kids eat five
(or more) loaves of bread.

The subsidy funding was originally supposed to be allocated by number of
school-age kids in a state. It has gotten fuzzier it seems.


Steve Ross
Editor-at-Large, Broadband Communities Magazine (www.bbcmag.com)
201-456-5933 mobile

editorsteve1 (Twitter)
steve at bbcmag.com
editorsteve at gmail.com



On Tue, Aug 10, 2021 at 6:39 PM Richard Lowenberg <rl at 1st-mile.org> wrote:

> I hope I have this right.
>
> --------
>
> 2021 Infrastructure Bill (Broadband)
>
> After months of talks, the U.S. Senate passed the Infrastructure
> Investment and Jobs Act today in a 69-30 vote. The bipartisan bill
> includes a $65 billion broadband proposal, designed to “connect every
> American to reliable high-speed internet,” according to the White House.
>
> More about the Bill:
> The “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” totals nearly $1 trillion,
> with $65 billion set aside for broadband and historic levels of support
> for digital inclusion.  Below is a breakdown of the funding allocations
> relative to broadband programs and digital inclusion.
>
> Digital Equity Act: $2.75 billion (over 5 years)
> o       $60 million for state planning grants
> o       $1.44 billion for state implementation grants
> o       $1.25 billion ($250 million a year for 5 years) for competitive
> grant
> program
>
> Broadband Grants for States, DC, Puerto Rico & Territories: $42.5
> billion
> o       This is a new grant program the National Telecommunications and
> Information Administration (NTIA) will manage. The deployment funds will
> be issued as block grants to states with rules defined by the NTIA.
> o       In addition to deployment, states can use funds from these grants
> for
> digital equity uses, including:
> o       To deploy affordable networks in low-income, multi-family buildings
> o       To promote broadband adoption
> o       Deployment grant recipients (ISPs) must offer a ‘low-cost’ or
> affordable plan for consumers.
>
> Broadband Benefit: $14.2 billion
> o       Extends and amends the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program,
> including
> changing the name to the “Affordable Connectivity Program,” paving the
> way for a permanent program
> o       All internet service plans are required to be eligible for the
> Affordable Connectivity Program
> o       The program benefit is reduced to $30/month
> o       Eligibility for the program is increased from 135% of poverty line
> to
> 200% of the poverty line
>
> Tribal Connectivity Program: $2 billion
> o       Extends the Tribal Connectivity Program created by Congress in the
> Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA)
>
> Middle Mile Connectivity: $1 billion
> o       Creates a grant program at NTIA for expanding middle mile access,
> which will help connect unserved anchor institutions and make last-mile
> buildout to unserved households easier and cheaper.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
> 1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
> Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
> rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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