Officials call for broadband expansion during pandemic

A top federal regulator and a House Democrat said Wednesday that the government needs to help expand internet access to more households as the coronavirus pandemic exposes significant gaps in coverage.

Speaking at a virtual event hosted by The Hill, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly (R) said that while many classrooms, doctor’s offices and workplaces have moved online, about 20 million Americans don’t have broadband.

“COVID-19 didn’t bring this issue upon us, but it’s made it more prominent,” O’Rielly said at The Vir{tech}tual World Ahead event, sponsored by Nokia.

O’Rielly told The Hill’s Editor-at-Large Steve Clemons, who was moderating the event, that lack of equipment and affordability are the main obstacles for households who aren’t able to log on.

Lawmaker weighs in: Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), co-chair of the Women’s High Tech Caucus, also emphasized the need for connectivity, even for jobs that can’t be done online.

“The situation we’re in across the country has really highlighted how critical it is that we provide technology access, and particularly broadband,” she said.

The first coronavirus relief package passed by Congress included $125 million for the Rural Utilities Service, but advocates and lawmakers say much more support is needed to close large gaps in connectivity.

Democratic lawmakers in both chambers have introduced legislation that would allocate resources for a fund at the FCC to disburse funds to schools and libraries to buy Wi-Fi hotspots, routers and internet-connected devices.