WASHINGTON (WHTC-AM/FM) – Leaders from higher education institutions across the US are telling Congress the biggest struggle they face from the coronavirus pandemic is the digital divide.
House Education Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis says the rush to expand online learning during the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted systemic issues within the education system, and President of Minneapolis College Dr. Sharon Pierce testified that technology investments need to be at the forefront of congressional decision making. Along those lines is a bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by St. Joseph Republican Congressman Fred Upton, which would open up the broadband market to utilities.
“They have the capability to be able to wire and connect people with broadband, whether they live in an urban or rural setting,” Upton said on “WHTC Morning News” during his weekly appearance on Tuesday. “It’s more competition, and it also (serves) areas that the ‘big guys’ (AT&T, Verison, T-Mobile) haven’t gone to.”
Upton is hoping to have his bill be a part of the next COVID relief package that lawmakers will be considering when they return to Capitol Hill from the holiday break next week.
