Access to internet service is meaningless to consumers if the cost of signing up is a barrier

We write in support of your ongoing focus on internet affordability as you work to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  For years, Democrats and Republicans expressed concern over the digital divide, and the $42 billion investment in the BEAD Program gives us a real opportunity to finally bridge this divide and connect every American to high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet.  As recently as 2021, just before enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, research indicated that one quarter of the U.S. population (about 80 million Americans) were on the wrong side of digital opportunity because they lacked a reliable, high-speed internet connection.... We urge you to continue to prioritize affordability in your administration of this bipartisan program and look forward to seeing it connect people in all communities across America to affordable, reliable internet service.