Representative TJ Cox Introduces Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act

Today, Representative TJ Cox joined House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (SC-06), members of the House Rural Broadband Taskforce and House Democrats to introduce the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act, which would invest $100 billion to build high-speed broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities and ensure that the resulting internet service is affordable. According to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2020 Broadband Deployment Report, 18 million people lack access to broadband, a number that most experts agree is underestimated.  

The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act would help connect those millions of Americans to the internet regardless of their socioeconomic status or address by 

• Encouraging universal broadband access by including $80 billion to deploy broadband infrastructure nationwide, 
• Ensuring internet affordability by requiring affordable options for internet services and discounts for low-income consumers, and  

Promoting internet adoption by providing over $1 billion to establish grant programs for states to close gaps in broadband adoption and including $5 billion to enable students without internet at home to participate in remote learning

“As we continue to fight COVID-19, we must not overlook our rural communities that disproportionately feel the detrimental effects of the digital divide,” said Rep. TJ Cox. ”This investment in broadband infrastructure is a down payment on the future of almost every industry, especially Central Valley agriculture and education. I am proud to support this bill, which will bring us closer to reliable, affordable broadband access for all.”  

“Over a year ago, I formed the House Rural Broadband Task Force with the goal of bringing affordable high-speed internet to 100 percent of Americans,” said Whip Clyburn. “Since then, the disparity between those served and unserved has become clearer. In my home state alone, nearly 1 in 10 South Carolina households lack access to a reliable broadband connection. That is why I am proud that the Rural Broadband Task Force, in collaboration with members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, crafted the Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act to address this issue once and for all.” 

This legislation is the product of extensive collaboration between the House Rural Broadband Task Force and members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and is included in House Democrats’ Moving Forward Act, a transformational infrastructure package to create jobs rebuilding America. 

The bill has 30 cosponsors and has gained widespread support among broadband advocates, including Access Now, U.S. Policy Manager, Communications Workers of America, Consumer Reporters, Federal Communications Commission, Free Press Action, Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, National Consumer Law Center, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, Open Technology Institute, and Public Knowledge.  

Read the full bill text here. 

Read a summary of each section here. 

Find out more here.