By: Jill Springer, Senior Advisor, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA

Streamlining and accelerating the permitting process is critical to implementing the Internet for All initiative.  

Since the passage of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provided a historic $65 billion investment to expand affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access to everyone in America, we heard from stakeholders that permitting is a significant concern in implementing the program. 

The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program provides funding for the expansion and extension of middle mile infrastructure across U.S. states and territories. In total, the program allocated $980 million to fund projects for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure covering more than 370 counties across 40 states and Puerto Rico in Summer 2023. The ultimate purpose of this funding is to expand and strengthen U.S. high-speed Internet networks by reducing the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the Internet backbone.

Interview is translated from Spanish 

Ten-year-old Miguel Alvarez is putting his new digital literacy skills to an unexpected use: writing stories about his need for a brother. 

“It is boring only having sisters,” Miguel, who has four sisters, explained.