Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs

Legislation introduced in the 110th Congress Legislation introduced in the 110th Congress seeks to provide federal financial assistance for broadband deployment in the form of grants, loans, subsidies, and tax credits. Of particular note is the possible reauthorization of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) broadband program, which is being considered as part of the 2007 farm bill. Legislation to reform universal service - which could impact the amount of financial assistance available for broadband deployment in rural and underserved areas - has been introduced (H.R. 42, H.R. 2054, S. 101, S. 711), as well as other broadband legislation (H.R. 1818, H.R. 2035, H.R. 2174, H.R. 2419, H.R. 2569, H.R. 2720, S. 541, S. 761, S. 1032, S. 1190, S. 1264, S. 1439, S. 1492). In assessing such legislation, several policy issues arise. For example, is the current status of broadband deployment data an adequate basis on which to base policy decisions? Is federal assistance premature, or do the risks of delaying assistance to underserved areas outweigh the benefits of avoiding federal intervention in the marketplace? And finally, if one assumes that governmental action is necessary to spur broadband deployment in underserved areas, which specific approaches, either separately or in combination, are likely to be most effective?


This package includes following files:

#	File Name	Document Date	Order ID:	Number of Pages	Price
1	RL30719_08_09_2007.pdf	Jun 27, 2007	RL30719	30	$29.95	Add to Cart

Older Versions: