Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

GUEST COLUMN:

Nevadans are counting on infrastructure broadband boost

The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the bipartisan deal to fund improvements to America’s broadband network, roads, water systems and more, means $3 billion in funding could be headed to Nevada.

The rare consensus of lawmakers from both political parties was encouraging to see, but Congress has more work to do until the provisions become law and projects start moving. The Nevada Farm Bureau Federation (NVFB), like so many Americans, wants to see this happen as soon as possible.

One important positive impact of this legislation will be to connect more Nevadans who lack access or can’t afford service to critical broadband connectivity. The House should pass this landmark legislation by the Sept. 27 legislative deadline it has set and continue to work on permanent solutions to close America’s digital divide.

One of our U.S. senators, Jacky Rosen, was one of the key negotiators in the bipartisan group that struck the deal. As representatives of Nevada farm and ranch families, we were thankful to see a Nevadan leading the charge for this crucial investment that will help everyone in our state, specifically the funding included in the bill to expand broadband access to as many people as possible. This technology is the key to unlocking the future of our industry and strengthening communities where producers live and work, but at least 88,000 Nevadans still cannot get broadband service, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and as many as 800,000 Nevadans do not use the internet at broadband speeds.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Rosen noted the historic importance of the bill, calling it “the most significant investment in American infrastructure since we built the interstate highway system.” Specifically, the senator pointed to the package’s provisions to increase access to broadband and upgrade Nevada’s airports.

Broadband has become a utility as necessary as water and electricity, especially for Farm Bureau members. Like most other sectors of the economy, farming and ranching benefit greatly from technological advances. Broadband internet access on farms and ranches means those who work the land can produce more goods with less work, leading to increased supply and lower prices for the average consumer. However, Nevada’s farmers and ranchers without broadband access aren’t able to take part in this industry-wide revolution and are, therefore, locked out of advancement.

The Senate’s infrastructure package dedicates $65 billion to broadband expansion, and the agriculture industry in Nevada can’t wait any longer for the House to pass this investment. This funding, along with resources to fix dangerously degraded roads and bridges, should be passed as soon as possible. Nevada’s representatives in the House, Dina Titus, Mark Amodei, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford, should join Sens. Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto — and a majority of Americans — in supporting the legislation. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will be a consequential step toward universal nationwide broadband access, but there will still be much further to go to fully close the digital divide. Last year, the FCC created the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a program that granted qualifying households a $50-a-month subsidy to purchase broadband service. The new infrastructure bill continues the program but lowers the subsidy to $30 a month, potentially pricing out some income-insecure Americans. 

Lawmakers can build on the positive momentum of the bipartisan infrastructure bill by providing additional, subsequent resources in a budget spending package to restore the full subsidy that will help every American have access to affordable broadband.

Congress has a unique opportunity to advance deployment, adoption and digital skills solutions that will strengthen our economy and communities. We’re counting on our leaders in Washington to deliver.

Doug Busselman is the executive vice president of the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation.