Labor, civil rights, consumer groups support HUD proposal to encourage broadband access

A coalition of labor, civil rights, consumer, and public interest groups praised the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s  (HUD) proposals to expand broadband infrastructure to HUD-supported low- and moderate-income households. HUD’s proposal would require developers to install broadband infrastructure during construction and rehabilitation of HUD-supported housing and would require state and local governments to evaluate broadband access in their community development priorities.

“Access to broadband is vital for full economic and social participation,” the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and allied organizations wrote in support of HUD’s proposal. “The Leadership Conference has long encouraged the federal government to incorporate policies to stimulate broadband access and adoption into existing programs. The Department’s proposed rules are an important step to ensure that every American regardless of income or place of residence has access to the internet, the critical infrastructure for the 21st century.”

More than half of low-income renters don’t have access to broadband. HUD’s common sense proposals demonstrate how federal agencies can adopt policies to stimulate broadband access.

Links:

Comments on HUD’s two proposed broadband rules (The Leadership Conference, July 18, 2016)