OTI Welcomes ‘Landmark Day’ for Utility Justice

On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened enrollment in the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a new federal program to make internet service more affordable. The program, which Congress passed and former president Trump signed into law in December, provides up to $50 per month to qualifying low-income households and $75 in Tribal areas. The FCC’s new enrollment website GetEmergencyBroadband.org provides further details on eligibility and enrollment.

Since the onset of the pandemic, OTI repeatedly urged Congress to pass legislation to make internet service more affordable. OTI strongly supported the creation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit and advocated for robust and speedy implementation at the FCC and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) earlier this year. OTI also published three Cost of Connectivity studies that found U.S. internet prices are among the world’s highest, particularly in rural and Tribal communities.

The following quote can be attributed to Joshua Stager, deputy director for broadband and competition policy at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“This is a landmark day for digital equity and utility justice. Millions of people have suffered through the pandemic without access to the internet because they cannot afford it. OTI’s research has long documented the high cost of internet service in the United States. Today, the federal government is finally doing something to meaningfully address the problem. This is a huge step forward.

“We thank the FCC and USAC for their tireless efforts to get this program off the ground in record time. At long last, help is on the way for the many households that are struggling to afford internet service.”