In a November 21 letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) urged the agency to halt the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program that was created by Congress in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The following statement may be attributed to Drew Garner, Director of Policy Engagement​ at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society:

The primary problem that Senator Cruz identifies in his letter is that the NTIA’s notice of funding opportunity incorporates "covered populations" language which includes “individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group.” But it was Congress, in its wisdom, that defined the covered populations the Digital Equity Act programs are designed to address—including “individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group.” In fact, the law goes further to define covered populations to include low-income people, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and rural Americans (among others) and outlines the critical steps that NTIA must follow to advance digital literacy and improve internet adoption.

It’s the law—and NTIA is merely following the law as Congress intended.

As the Digital Equity Act itself points out, broadband access and digital literacy are critical for how people “participate in the society, economy, and civic institutions of the United States; and access health care and essential services, obtain education, and build careers.” 

While Senator Ted Cruz voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, as is his right, the law nonetheless passed with broad bipartisan support and includes important directives to NTIA to move the U.S. towards digital equity, a pursuit that the law says is "worth pursuing."

Even Bill from the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon “I’m Just a Bill” would understand that a law can’t be changed after the fact just because one Senator who voted against the legislation still doesn’t like it. 

Senator Cruz’s solution is to demand that NTIA ignore the will of Congress and the law, and, in so doing, deny digital literacy and adoption programing for ALL the covered populations that the law is designed to help—leaving military Veterans, seniors, rural Americans, people with disabilities, low-income people and others without access, the ability to use the Internet, or a voice online. 

While Senator Cruz may not support or value these important goals, Congress does. Rather than trying to stall, stifle, or stop the access to broadband that Congress has deemed essential, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society looks forward to a time in which all Americans are able to fully benefit from a connected future. 

The Digital Equity Act programs are playing an important role in helping America achieve that future.

Let's make sure NTIA stays on track and delivers a connected future for everyone in the U.S.

 

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

---

For subscribe/unsubscribe info, please email headlinesATbentonDOTorg