Washington, DC – Today, Congressmen Scott Peters (D-CA) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced the Proper Leadership to Align Networks (PLAN) for Broadband Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would require the Administration to develop and implement a national strategy to close the digital divide. 

The PLAN for Broadband Act is based on a Government Accountability Office report that found federal broadband efforts are fragmented and overlapping. The report recommended that a national broadband strategy is needed to avoid duplication and ensure funds are reaching the truly unserved and underserved.

“We allocated historic funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to ensure every American – no matter where you live – has access to high-speed internet and the vast opportunities that reliable broadband coverage provides in today’s digital world,” said Rep. Peters. “But it won’t help anyone if the money just sits in the bank or is spent inefficiently. The PLAN for Broadband Act would establish a much-needed coordinated national strategy across the over 100 existing federal programs to close the digital divide. Our bipartisan legislation will streamline the deployment of these funds so we can deliver high-speed broadband at a rate that meets the urgency of this moment.

"In today's digital age, having access to reliable broadband service is integral to our economy, education, and most aspects of our daily lives," said Rep. Walberg. "Experts have testified that while we have enough funding to close the digital divide, we don't have the coordination necessary to effectively allocate these resources to the communities that need it most. We must develop a roadmap to improve the efficiency and coordination of federal broadband programs so that we can streamline efforts and accelerate the deployment of broadband. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to ensure that more Americans gain access to the high-speed broadband they need to thrive."