AAU joined ACE and 20 higher education associations and organizations in sending a letter to the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to “include dedicated investments in broadband infrastructure for postsecondary students and institutions in any infrastructure package under consideration.”
The letter highlights how the pandemic exacerbated preexisting digital divides and affected certain students’ and institutions’ ability to access the resources they needed to pivot to online instruction. Addressing these gaps, the letter notes, would have “benefits far beyond the students and schools immediately impacted.” The letter also urges Congress to expand the Emergency Broadband Benefit and to make it permanent. In addition, it asks Congress to consider how state prohibitions on public- or government-owned networks or on public networks from owning or leasing fiber optic assets impact public education and research networks.