Senator Murray Hosts Broadband Roundtable with Schools and Libraries

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) joined school, library, and community officials to discuss how the American Rescue Plan is helping to expand broadband access across Washington State and lower internet costs for families. During the event, Senator Murray also highlighted how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help students and families get online, lower costs for households with low incomes, and ensure everyone can make the most of an internet connection once they have one. According to the White House, there are currently at least 241,000 people in Washington state who lack broadband coverage.

A longtime advocate for expanding broadband access, Senator Murray worked to include nearly $7 billion in flexible broadband funding for Washington state and its local governments in the American Rescue Plan. Local broadband projects are also eligible for competitive grants through the Capital Projects Fund established by the American Rescue Plan, which can directly support remote work, education, and health monitoring through broadband deployment and adoption programs. Washington state was allocated nearly $200 million from the fund and the Washington State Broadband Office will distribute the awards on a competitive basis.

In addition to the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senator Murray helped to craft and pass, will provide at least $100 million for broadband deployment in Washington state to help families access reliable, high-speed internet, with more federal dollars available through grant funding. The law establishes a new Affordable Connectivity Program that will make the existing Emergency Broadband Benefit permanent and expand its eligibility to help an estimated 1,409,000 or 19% of Washington state residents, who will be eligible for $30/month benefit to get online. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has one year to issue new broadband label rules that will provide transparency on the broadband rates paid by consumers.

Notably, the legislation also includes Senator Murray’s Digital Equity Act which will provide $2.75 billion in grants to states and local communities to help close the digital divide and make sure everyone has the tools they need to get online and get connected. Specifically, the Digital Equity Act is a historic investment in digital inclusion for local communities – focusing on key needs outside of just broadband deployment. The funding from the Digital Equity Act grants could be used for anything from laptops and devices for students to digital literacy classes for seniors at a local library.

Senator Murray was joined by Eric Smith, Technology, Student Data and Assessment Director for Elma School District; Joey Castilleja, Superintendent of Mabton School District; Lois Langer Thompson, Executive Director of Sno-Isle Libraries; and Jorge Castillo, CEO for Inspire of Washington state, who discussed how their local schools, libraries, and communities are using American Rescue Plan funds to expand internet access.