Agenda - Council - 09/13/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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pandemic on a household by providing assistance that helps them secure internet access or increase their ability to use computers and the internet, is separate from the eligible use category for investments in broadband infrastructure, under Sections 602(c)(1)(D) and 603(c)(1)(D), which is used to build new broadband networks through infrastructure construction or modernization. For discussion of broadband infrastructure investment in the final rule, see section Broadband Infrastructure in Infrastructure. Background: The COVID-19 public health emergency has underscored the importance of universally available, high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband coverage as millions of Americans rely on the internet to participate in, among other critical activities, school, healthcare, and work. Recognizing the need for such connectivity, SLFRF funds can be used to make necessary investments in broadband infrastructure that increase access over the long term, as well as the necessary supports to purchase internet access or gain digital literacy skills needed to complete activities of daily living during the pandemic. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) highlighted the growing necessity of broadband in daily lives through its analysis of NTIA Internet Use Survey data, noting that Americans turn to broadband internet service for every facet of daily life including work, study, and healthcare.119 With increased use of technology for daily activities and the movement by many businesses and schools to operating remotely during the pandemic, 119 See, e.g., Nation Telecommunications and Information Administration, More than Half of American Households Used the Internet for Health -Related Activities in 2019, NTIA Data Show (December 7, 2020), https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2020/more-half-american-households-used-internet-health-related-activities-2019-ntia- data-show; Nation Telecommunications and Information Administration, Nearly a Third of American Employees Worked Remotely in 2019, NTIA Data Show (September 3, 2020) https://www.ntia.gov/blog/2020/nearly-third- american-employees-worked-remotely-2019-ntia-data-show; and generally, Nation Telecommunications and Information Administration, Digital Nation Data Explorer (June 10, 2020), https://www.ntia.gov/data/digital-nation- data-explorer. 86