The free laptop program built into President Biden's reconciliation plan

The bipartisan infrastructure bill contains billions to expand high-speed broadband across the country, aiming to close the digital divide over the next 10 years. But the Biden administration’s $65 billion down payment on broadband can only help connect families who can afford a computer. So President Biden’s latest version of the Build Back Better program goes further, allocating new funds to bring federally funded desktops, laptops, and tablets to low-income Americans. The Connected Device Grant Program would help provide free or discounted desktops, laptops, or tablets to low-income households. To accomplish that goal, the Commerce Department would receive $475 million to award community groups that want to distribute these devices locally. The device program has been championed by Sen Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Rep A Donald McEachin (D-VA), whose Device Access for Every American Act was roped into the Build Back Better budget reconciliation package and amended into the nearly half a billion grant program currently authorized under the measure. Funding the program through the grant model leaves the specifics of implementation up to local groups, which could include anything from housing authorities to local libraries. Experts also expect the private sector to play a significant role in distributing devices once the grant funding is approved by Congress. Hoping to stretch the grant dollars further, community groups could partner with device manufacturers to buy devices in bulk or offer them at a discounted rate.