Washington-. US President Joe Biden will today announce a $40 billion fund to improve connectivity in areas without internet access.
According to the White House, around 8.5 million places across the country are currently not connected to the Internet.
“This announcement is part of the President’s broader effort to bring investment, jobs and opportunity directly to working and middle-class families,” a government official said.
He also reported that this will be the first of a three-week series of “Investing in America,” in which Biden and other officials will highlight how funds from the bipartisan Infrastructure Act and other passed legislation will bolster infrastructure across the country.
Funding for the ambitious connectivity plan comes primarily from the Broadband Equity Implementation and Access Program.
These efforts to implement the infrastructure and improve internet access will take about 18 months, according to the authorities.
A White House timeline for the project said the state and local planning process will take place in the coming months, with initial plans expected by the end of the year.
Biden often references efforts to improve internet access when discussing investment among the middle class, arguing that it is vital to economic competitiveness in the 21st century.
In a call with reporters to discuss the ad, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients highlighted North Carolina farmers who don’t have internet access and therefore rely on word of mouth to sell their crops and livestock.
“We have a historic opportunity here to really make a difference in people’s lives, and we work every day to fulfill that potential,” added Zients.