SUBCOMMITTEE Economic and Workforce Health

State workforces and economies experienced shifting challenges in recent years as layoffs and furloughs in the public and private sectors resulted in sudden high levels of unemployment. The increased prevalence of remote work and an abnormal influx of voluntary resignations in 2021 and 2022 also highlighted opportunities and the critical need for states to provide further investments and training in broadband and other in-demand occupations.

The Economic and Workforce Health Subcommittee released 10 policy recommendations with two areas of focus: broadband and apprenticeships.

Broadband

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the extensiveness of the nation’s digital divide, which is defined as the gap between those who have access to high-speed internet and devices and those who do not. Even some areas of the country once thought to have sufficient access to broadband were found wanting as members of the same households quarantined together sought bandwidth for online learning, telework, e-commerce, telehealth and streaming entertainment. Despite renewed investment at the federal and state levels in recent years, broadband infrastructure is still weak or non-existent in many parts of the country. The pandemic drove a 51% increase in broad- band traffic in 2020 due in large part to remote learning and remote work, according to the broadband network management technology provider OpenVault. This increased demand for broadband will likely remain as employers and employees report support for permanent hybrid or fully remote work.

1. States can devote federal infrastructure funds to broadband access and expansion.

2. States can consider amending state laws to allow electric utilities and electricity distribution cooperatives to provide broadband service.

3. States can utilize and encourage the federal government to assist in funding geospatial and other mapping technologies that can provide accurate information about broadband coverage and access.

4. States can consider creating multi-stakeholder, multi-agency task forces (with the intent of permanent offices) dedicated to broadband coordination that include private sector telecommunication companies and co-ops.

5. States can encourage Congress to review U.S. communications law for the purposes of ensuring 100% broadband access.