2009-05

Maximize Broadband Support

Miranda (AZ); Candelaria-Reardon (IN) Pichardo (RI); Ratified

Calling on the Federal Government to Maximize its Stimulus Support for Broadband Internet
Adoption and Use Programs

WHEREAS, among the approximately 92 percent of American households that have access to
broadband Internet services, only about 61 percent of U.S. households subscribe1 and

WHEREAS, research shows that a “lack of interest” in broadband is one of the main reasons
certain populations do not seek out broadband services2; and

WHEREAS, research also shows that many non-broadband households view broadband as
being either irrelevant or difficult to use,3 and nearly half of the population that does not
subscribe to broadband says it does not need such a connection4; and

WHEREAS, Americans that do not have broadband at home are disproportionately lowerincome
and older than average and fewer than one-quarter of such Americans have broadband
at home5; and

WHEREAS, the National Hispanic Council of State Legislators (NHCSL) believes that
widespread efforts to promote broadband adoption, use, and digital literacy are critical to
improving the nation’s long-term competitiveness in a global market, and to achieving certain
socioeconomic improvements in the quality of American life; and

WHEREAS, expanding adoption, use and digital literacy skills will allow a greater number of
Americans to fully take advantage of the benefits of broadband based applications such as telehealth,
energy management and education opportunities online; and

WHEREAS, the broadband funding programs established in the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dedicate significant resources to promoting broadband awareness,
adoption, use, and digital literacy by these populations; shall it

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NHCSL calls upon the federal agencies distributing
the broadband funding included in the ARRA to expressly mandate that broadband awareness,
adoption, use, and digital literacy programs receive funding priority;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NHCSL calls upon the federal agencies implementing
the broadband funding included in the ARRA to follow Congress’ clear legislative intent with
respect to broadband adoption, use, and digital literacy treat the mandated minimum expenditure of $250 million for these purposes as a threshold level with a maximum limited only by the size of the broadband stimulus program itself;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be forwarded to members of Congress, the
Administration, and the relevant federal agencies implementing the broadband funding
programs including but not limited to the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration and the Rural Utilities Service;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NHCSL calls upon all levels of governments to work
cooperatively with the private sector, nonprofits, and academia to develop robust broadband
awareness, adoption, and use programs.

This resolution was adopted on July 25, 2009, at the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Executive Committee Spring Meeting held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and ratified at the NHCSL 2009 Annual Meeting held in Santa Monica,California on November 21st, 2009.