Statement of Dr. Alondra Nelson on the Affordable Connectivity Program
Communities across America know that infrastructure is personal. The way we answer key questions about technological investments – where we build them, and who benefits – has the power to transform lives and remedy inequity. That’s why today’s announcement of no-cost, high-speed access to the internet for tens of millions of American households is an extraordinary expression of the Biden-Harris Administration’s values – and a historic initiative in using technology to make life more prosperous for people across the country.
In the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, our mission is to maximize the benefits of science and technology to advance health, prosperity, security, environmental quality, and justice for all Americans. Today’s announcement is a watershed moment in that mission: It means that a cancer patient who lives hours from her oncologist can now do some of her regular check-ins without making a long drive. It means a small-scale manufacturer can now reach new, international markets. It means teachers and students can access free, world-class learning resources from our nation’s finest museums and educational centers. It means that more people can take on part-time remote work, more underrepresented communities can access critical opportunities, and millions more cars can be taken off the road for many more days of the year, dramatically reducing our nation’s climate effects.
President Biden has said that high-speed internet is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. Today’s announcement affirms that truth for millions of American households, and shows what we can achieve when our leaders champion our values: bringing internet providers together around an affordable price point that makes our public investment achieve the goal we set. This initiative, matched with efforts across the Biden-Harris Administration to increase broadband competition, will reduce prices and increase quality across America. It’s a big day for both science and technology for the American people.
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