Elections 2024: What Will Be the Candidates' Proposals to Close the Digital Divide?
Access to broadband internet in poorer and rural communities has been an important issue in campaigns since 2008. Reducing the digital divide was a key aspect during Barack Obama's presidency.
The presidential election in the United States is nearing its final stage. With voting day scheduled for November 5, the positions of the candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, regarding crucial technological issues today are being examined.
Since 2008, access to broadband in poorer and rural communities has been a prominent topic in election campaigns. The fight to close the digital divide was a fundamental part of Barack Obama's agenda. His administration, although not perfect, made significant efforts to expand the country's fiber optic infrastructure, free up wireless spectrum, and increase access to subsidies for low-income families. However, despite the promises of successive administrations to continue that work, the results have been disappointing. Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have expressed their intention to connect Americans to the internet, although political realities could complicate achieving this goal.
In the Biden administration, Harris has taken on an almost official role as broadband overseer, actively engaging in current policies. This could provide her with the opportunity to leave a positive legacy despite Biden's uneven track record in this area. Under her tenure, the White House secured about $90 billion to address the digital divide, with $42.5 billion allocated to the BEAD program (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment). This program is designed for states to fund the planning and construction of broadband infrastructure, which includes bringing fiber to rural areas, installing Wi-Fi in low-income housing complexes, and training workers for new careers in telecommunications. Unfortunately, the BEAD program has faced numerous delays, and very little of that money has actually been distributed. Virginia, which was the first to submit its application in September 2023, only received partial approval to access $1.48 billion in funding by the end of July.
The slow and problematic rollout of BEAD has generated criticism, and conservatives have managed to use it as an argument against Harris. The strict requirements surrounding environmental impact, labor practices, and affordable access have allowed Republicans to consider it a hindrance to freedom and economic growth. The NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), which administers BEAD, has defended the management of the program, stating that it is on track, although it is unlikely that any projects funded by BEAD will begin before 2025.
For his part, Donald Trump, like Biden, also made promises regarding the expansion of broadband access, especially in rural communities, but his administration failed to meet those expectations. During his tenure and under Ajit Pai, the FCC launched the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which promised $20.4 billion to expand rural broadband, although it was mainly a restructuring of an already existing program under Obama. The initiatives of his administration were much more modest compared to Biden's and Obama's efforts, including a $1.3 billion investment program through the Department of Agriculture's ReConnect Program.
Currently, both Trump and the Republican National Committee have not extensively addressed the issue of rural broadband or the digital divide, which could indicate that a potential new term would focus on small-scale investments rather than large infrastructure programs. Although Trump's campaign has attempted to distance itself from Project 2025, this document includes several proposals developed by close collaborators. Among these is the promotion of 5G technology, with a focus on freeing up additional spectrum for wireless broadband and streamlining the permitting process. It also seeks to reduce regulations related to environmental impact and construction on federal lands, with the goal of encouraging the creation of more cell phone sites. There is also a proposal to expedite approval for satellite providers, such as StarLink, deemed essential for the economic and national security of the United States.
Project 2025 highlights the need to consolidate efforts under a national broadband strategy, citing a 2022 Government Accountability Office report that identified over 100 programs administered by 15 agencies as evidence of mismanagement and potential waste.