Broadband

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that The Council of State Governments calls upon the federal agencies distributing the broadband funding included in the ARRA to expressly mandate that broadband awareness, adoption, use, and digital literacy programs receive funding priority;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The Council of State Governments calls upon the federal agencies implementing the broadband funding included in the ARRA to follow Congress’ clear legislative intent with respect to broadband adoption, use, and digital literacy treat the mandated minimum expenditure of $250 million for these purposes as a threshold level with a maximum limited only by the size of the broadband stimulus program itself.

Suggested State Legislation: Access to high speed Internet services is vital to America’s economy. Developing a comprehensive strategy to provide access statewide is a goal in most, if not all, states. Illinois and Minnesota are two states which are using a nonprofit organization to plan or manage the process to make it happen.

Suggested State Legislation: This Act creates an institute to work to ensure all businesses and citizens of the state can get affordable high-speed Internet access.