The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to closing the digital divide in the United States. Millions of Americans lack access to the infrastructure, skills, or tools needed to take full advantage of broadband and maximize the benefits that it offers for communities. Passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the ACCESS BROADBAND Act established the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency within the Department of Commerce.1The Act calls for OICG to engage in outreach and assistance for state, local, and tribal entities; track spending on federal broadband support programs and Universal Service Fund (USF) programs; streamline the applications process for financial assistance or grants for such programs; and coordinate with other agencies to enhance efficiency and minimize duplication of federal broadband support.
The 2021 ACCESS BROADBAND Report is the first annual report prepared under this mandate. OICG engaged partners across the federal government to lay the foundation for future editions of the report, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the White House’s National Economic Council (NEC), and also partners with federal broadband support programs. The 2021 report serves as a baseline of current capabilities and challenges associated with tracking available data across programs.
