Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Will Provide $65 Billion for Broadband Deployment, Adoption and Digital Skills

Press Release
November 6, 2021
Contact: Jon Conradi
[email protected]

Washington, D.C. – Connect Americans Now (CAN) executive director Richard T. Cullen released the following statement Saturday on the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the U.S. House of Representatives Friday evening. The U.S. Senate passed the bill in August.

“Connect Americans Now applauds Members of Congress for passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will provide a critical down payment toward bridging the digital divide in America,” Cullen said. “This legislation marks a historic first step toward ensuring every American community, regardless of zip code, will have access to the digital tools needed to create good jobs, lift wages, reduce poverty, improve health outcomes and empower students to reach their full potential.”

“Connect Americans Now looks forward to President Biden signing this legislation into law and urges Congress to build on the positive momentum for action by advancing additional, permanent solutions to completely eliminate the digital divide in every American community,” Cullen continued. “To secure digital equity and safeguard the American Dream for the next generation, policymakers must ensure every American has access to an affordable, reliable broadband connection and the digital devices and skills necessary to succeed in the 21^st Century economy and classroom.”

Founded in 2017, Connect Americans Now (CAN) is a broad-based coalition of more than 300 companies and organizations representing leading voices in agriculture, education, health care, veterans’ issues, technology and small business — committed to urgent action to completely eliminate the digital divide in every American community.

Read more on a recent national poll, commissioned by CAN, that found broad majorities of American voters agree broadband internet, digital devices and digital skills are essential to success in the 21st Century, support the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and back additional solutions to permanently eliminate the digital divide in every American community HERE.

Read CAN’s recent letter, co-signed by 42 organizations representing a wide array of voices, to Congressional letters calling for the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and additional permanent solutions to close the digital divide HERE.

Read more on how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will improve broadband connectivity and digital equity in America HERE.

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