Bill Overview
Title: PLAN for Broadband Act
Description: This bill directs the President to develop and implement a national strategy to improve the coordination and management of federally supported programs for expanding access to and adoption of broadband internet. The President must coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on the strategy's implementation. The Government Accountability Office must study the effectiveness of the strategy and its implementation and make recommendations for improvement.
Sponsors: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Target Audience
Population: People without reliable broadband access
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill aims to expand access to and adoption of broadband internet.
- Access to broadband is critical for participation in modern digital economies and societies.
- Currently, there are significant portions of the global population without reliable broadband access.
- Many people in underserved and rural areas particularly lack broadband access.
- Broadband access impacts education, healthcare, business opportunities, and social inclusion.
- Global estimates of individuals without internet access as of recent reports reach around 3 billion people.
- As broadband access improves, millions will see potential improvements in quality of life.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily consists of underserved and rural communities who currently lack reliable broadband access.
- Giving broadband access increases opportunities for education, healthcare, digital communication, and economic activities.
- In some cases, increased access may lead to higher user costs where service providers have monopoly or duopoly markets, which could mildly affect perceived wellbeing.
- There will be people in urban areas who already have broadband access and will see no impact from this policy.
- The timeline suggests immediate skills and tech integration, with gradual economic and social benefit increase over 10-20 years.
Simulated Interviews
high school teacher (rural Kansas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With better broadband, I could provide more interactive and diverse resources to my students.
- Improved internet would help both my professional work and personal life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
software developer (urban New York City)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see this affecting me directly since I already have excellent broadband access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
retired (suburban Ohio)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's frustrating not having sufficient internet for online health consultations.
- I hope this policy makes broadband more affordable and accessible for seniors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
local business owner (rural Alabama)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better broadband would greatly improve my business operations.
- Currently, I lose customers due to slow website loading times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
freelance graphic designer (rural Montana)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Struggles with the current internet speeds constrain my work productivity.
- Accessibility improvements would open up more opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
digital marketing manager (urban Los Angeles)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This sounds beneficial for those in rural areas but won't impact city life much.
- Support is great, but ensuring competitive pricing is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
farmer (rural West Virginia)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stable internet would revolutionize how I manage and sell my produce.
- Could use technologies to monitor weather and soil data real-time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
unemployed (rural Maine)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This would help me apply for jobs online much faster.
- I could learn new skills and maybe take online courses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
healthcare worker (remote Alaska)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable broadband is crucial for providing healthcare services efficiently.
- It would enhance how healthcare is delivered and recorded in remote areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
accountant (urban Chicago)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this mainly helping those without current access.
- Improved digital infrastructure is always good for a country's overall progress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $90000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $110000000)
Year 3: $100000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $120000000)
Year 5: $110000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $130000000)
Year 10: $120000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $140000000)
Year 100: $130000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- Effective implementation of the national strategy is crucial to achieving projected benefits.
- Inter-agency coordination may raise initial administrative costs but optimize long-term outcomes.
- The success of broadband expansion depends on private and public sector partnership and investment.