A New York Congressman and Illinois Senator have introduced a bill to increase access to broadband service for low-income residents.
Hudson Valley Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and Senator Dick Durbin have introduced The Promoting Access to Broadband Act to help states increase awareness of and enrollment in the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program, which aims to help low-income households pay for their telephone and broadband service charges by providing a monthly subsidy of $9.25. The Democrats say enrollment remains very low nationwide. The bill would award grants to at least five states and require the FCC to issue a report to Congress within a year of establishing the grant program evaluating the program’s effectiveness.