COVID-19 Bill Logjam Seen as Making Election Broadband Talk Likelier

Some lawmakers and advocates believe Capitol Hill’s inability to agree on an additional COVID-19 aid bill that includes broadband funding presents an opening for the issue to become a focus during the presidential and congressional campaigns this fall, they told us. Congress provided some related funding in March via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (see 2003250046).

The law included $16 billion that the Department of Education can use for remote learning and other initiatives, plus $200 million the FCC already allocated in its COVID-19 telehealth program and $125 million for Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service broadband programs. Talks between Congress and the Trump administration on the next aid measure are on hold until after Labor Day (see 2008130053).

Presidential candidate Joe Biden in accepting the Democratic Party nomination Thursday cited broadband and other infrastructure as part of “a new foundation for economic growth.” Former President Bill Clinton and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., earlier in the week noted their hopes for improved broadband connectivity during a Biden administration (see 2008190056).

“Significant gaps in access to technology, including lack of access to high-speed broadband and connected devices, have deepened inequities in our educational system” during the pandemic, the Democrats said in their party platform, approved last week during the Democratic National Convention. “We will significantly increase federal investments in rural, urban, and Tribal broadband infrastructure to close the digital divide and ensure students can access educational resources from their homes and schools now and in the future.” The Republican National Committee is considering rolling over its 2016 platform language for 2020, though President Donald Trump is seeking an update (see 2006120061). The 2016 platform noted the GOP’s interest in increasing broadband deployments and freeing up spectrum.

“I think there should be a ton” of discussion about broadband funding during the campaign, and not just because of the pandemic, said Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. Biden is already “on message” with congressional Democrats’ desire for a major infrastructure bill that includes connectivity money, she said. The Biden campaign last month backed universal broadband and 5G access for all Americans, citing the epidemic’s role in highlighting the widening digital divide (see 2007140065).

Infrastructure generally is “one kind of economic sector that really could help our economy” and provide new jobs for people unemployed during the epidemic, Cantwell told us. “We know we have a deficit on infrastructure and we know that it’s also necessary now because of COVID-19” to improve broadband and other telecom infrastructure across the country. “We should be putting pedal to the metal,” especially since “the long-term benefits of investment in infrastructure will pay out for generations,” she said.

Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, believes infrastructure funding is unlikely to be a campaign focus unless it’s in the context of how to improve the U.S.’ COVID-19 recovery. “The pandemic will prevail” as the campaign’s main issue, he said.

“I can make a case for inclusion of broadband funding” in a compromise COVID-19 bill, despite the standstill in negotiations, Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in an interview. Broadband projects clearly qualify to be included in such legislation if “you’re looking at” the intersection of “whether it’s money well spent,” has a connection to the pandemic and “doesn’t break the bank."

There's still a possibility a compromise measure will contain broadband funding, as some circulating drafts from Republicans do allocate money for that purpose, said Internet Innovation Alliance honorary Chairman Rick Boucher, a Democratic ex-House Communications Subcommittee chairman from Virginia. “We don’t have clarity on that yet.” Senate Republicans’ July proposals for the next aid bill included funding for the FCC to implement the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998) and some other tech and telecom language but no broadband funding (see 2007280059). The House-passed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HR-6800) included connectivity money (see 2005130059).

“We’ve heard more from Democrats about the need to do something than we have from Republicans,” but the GOP is at least “acknowledging the need,” Boucher said. He expects Democrats will continue to be “much more vocal about the need for broadband deployment. Rural America typically is not a place where Democrats do well, but I think to the extent they focus on the issue and talk convincingly about the need for government assistance” to improve access, they can “certainly use the issue to their advantage.” What “the Republicans are going to do is kind of a mystery,” Boucher said. Trump and other GOP candidates need to talk about their broadband plans because if they don’t, they “run the risk of Democrats beginning to eat into their base in rural areas, because it’s an issue that can move votes,” he said.

“There are different approaches to what” Congress’ response “should look like and what is necessary to continue the American history of innovation,” said American Action Forum Director-Technology and Innovation Policy Jennifer Huddleston. “There have been actions that can be pointed to” on the GOP side during the pandemic, including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s voluntary Keep Americans Connected pledge, the commission’s work to open up more spectrum to bridge the connectivity gap in rural communities and state governments’ work. “This has been an issue for a while” and it’s “not something that’s going to be completely solved” immediately after the election “regardless of what the result is.”

Both parties are likely to increase their focus on broadband investment over the course of the campaign because “we’ve got a huge crisis on our hands” since many schools won’t reopen for in-person classes this fall and “about 30 percent of students who don’t have broadband at home to engage in remote learning,” said Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen. “There’s been a huge amount of talk on Capitol Hill about how to address the homework gap,” but there’s “no consensus about what needs to be done.” SHLB is urging Congress to seek $5.25 billion in emergency Lifeline funding in the next bill (see 2004280068). “I’m hopeful” lawmakers will reach a deal before the election, “but I’m not optimistic,” Windhausen said.

Oklahoma State University political science professor Seth McKee said he believes broadband will make a real appearance only in local campaigns. “These nuts and bolts policy issues are important, but I don’t think you’ll see much discussion of them in national politics,” he said. “There are only so many issues that can get oxygen” and crises like the pandemic “are suffocating anything that’s smaller.” Widespread reliance on remote learning will mean broadband access will be an important topic in local races because education issues frequently get more attention at that level, McKee said. He was similarly pessimistic last year that Democratic presidential candidates’ broadband funding plans would translate into more support from rural voters (see 1909040061).