Bill Overview
Title: Rural Internet Improvement Act of 2022
Description: This bill merges the pilot ReConnect Loan and Grant Program with existing loans and grants provided by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate broadband access to rural areas that lack sufficient access to broadband. Unobligated amounts available for the pilot program must be transferred and made available, without further appropriations, to this merged program. The bill specifies eligibility criteria and other requirements that apply to the merged program. For example, the bill limits funds from the merged program to projects in areas where at least 90% of the households lack sufficient access to broadband services, which is currently required under the pilot program. Other changes in the bill address procedures for contesting the accuracy of broadband maps that are used to identify eligible areas. It also requires efforts to increase coordination concerning broadband initiatives between USDA, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Telecommunications Information Administration.
Sponsors: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Target Audience
Population: People living in rural areas lacking sufficient broadband access
Estimated Size: 12000000
- Rural areas globally often suffer from insufficient broadband access due to lower population densities and economic viability challenges for telecom companies.
- Improving broadband access can enhance education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for rural populations.
- Rural areas make up a significant portion of land across all countries, even if not proportionally in population.
Reasoning
- Consideration was given to rural demographics; individuals from diverse age groups and occupations were included to understand the policy impact on education, healthcare, business, and lifestyle.
- The target population is those living in areas with limited broadband access. I considered both those directly affected by the improvement in service and those tangentially affected, like their neighbors already having access.
- Different levels of policy impact were hypothesized—from no change for those already with access, to high impact for those entirely without that essential access.
- Budget constraints imply prioritizing the most underserved areas, limiting those in border cases where partial service might already exist.
- Broad consideration for common occupations in rural areas such as farming, self-employment, and small local businesses, given the potential digital divide.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Rural Alabama)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I currently rely on the local library for reliable internet access. This new policy could help me get it at home, which would mean a lot less hassle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Nebraska)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy brings us good internet, it'll make a big difference for running my farm and educating my kids at home.
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 |
Student (Rural Michigan)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to fast internet will help me do school work from home, no need to make long trips to campus or a friend's house.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Rural Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More reliable internet can really help me expand my business's reach through online advertisement.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Homemaker (Rural California)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stronger internet would open up education options with online classes for my kids.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Remote Worker (Rural Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find myself working at a cafe that has better connectivity than my home. Better internet would change that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Currently, I struggle with buffering when trying to watch videos online. Hopefully, this will change that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (Rural Virginia)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If we get better internet, I can use more digital tools to teach even when students are at home.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Health Worker (Rural New Mexico)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With better broadband, my clinic might finally implement telehealth solutions, making it easier for patients to access care.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Freelancer (Rural Utah)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm doing good now but an upgrade could mean more robust internet and fewer outages, boosting my productivity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $3000000000)
Year 2: $2500000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $3000000000)
Year 3: $2500000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $3000000000)
Year 5: $2000000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2500000000)
Year 10: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- The capability and quality of the broadband infrastructure that can be developed with the consolidated funds, and the technological approach utilized, will significantly impact both costs and benefits.
- Regulatory challenges and legal hurdles related to land use and infrastructure sharing might impose additional costs or delays.
- The success of the coordination efforts between USDA, FCC, and NTIA will be critical in ensuring efficiency and minimizing redundancy.
- A potential rise in digital skills needed for rural populations to fully benefit from internet access should be considered, possibly necessitating concurrent educational or training programs.
- The long-term maintenance and operational costs associated with the broadband infrastructure will also need ongoing assessment.