Making Our Union Stronger in Tough Times: CWA: Broadband Grants Should Create Quality Jobs

CWA is working with government agencies that will write the rules governing the $7.2 billion broadband grants program included in President Obama's economic recovery program.

The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development (RUS) together will give out the $7.2 billion in grant funds, with the NTIA grants designed to improve broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas, increase broadband adoption, improve access to broadband by public safety agencies, libraries, schools and community centers, and stimulate the economy and create good jobs.

The NTIA will allocate $350 million of its funds for the Broadband Data Improvement Act for mapping and community initiatives, at least $200 million to expand public computer center capacity in libraries and community colleges, and at least $250 million for programs encouraging broadband adoption. All the funds must be distributed before Sept. 30, 2010. The Broadband Data Improvement Act was a key legislative effort of CWA's Speed Matters campaign, a Strategic Industries Fund project, to press for universal, high speed Internet access and to support a national policy for high speed broadband buildout.

At six roundtable discussions — in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Flagstaff, Ariz. — organizations, business and community leaders met with agency officials and provided recommendations on how the funds should be used. CWA has called for the agencies to keep their focus on the central goal of the President's economic recovery plan: creating quality jobs that are critical in this economic downturn.

At the first panel in Washington, D.C., CWA research economist Debbie Goldman cited the important role of state and local governments to ensure that projects target resources effectively and provide additional oversight and fraud protection. Private providers should be eligible for the economic stimulus funds only if they have a proven track record of performance, she added.

The major goals for broadband stimulus projects reflect the principles of CWA's "Speed Matters" campaign: closing the broadband gap in both rural areas where residents have no access and in underserved urban neighborhoods; creating good jobs; stimulating broadband demand; and leveraging private investment in the projects.

High-speed broadband is the critical economic engine of the 21st century, but the United States — the country that invented the Internet — has fallen from first to 15th in high speed Internet penetration. High tech innovation, job growth, telemedicine, distance learning, rural development, public safety, e-government and many new applications require high speed networks, and CWA is working to ensure that all Americans will benefit from the promise of high speed broadband.