Approximately 7 trillion yen 'national total broadband plan' is being deliberated in the United States, and there are voices of doubt from the media

A bipartisan group in the US Senate has announced that it has generally agreed to talks on a $ 550 billion infrastructure investment bill. The bill is expected to be deliberated in the Senate soon, but IT media outlets are questioning the 'national total broadband plan' included in the bill.

FACT SHEET: Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal | The White House
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/28/fact-sheet-historic-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/

Biden says he has deal to lower Internet prices, but the details will matter | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/07/biden-isps-that-take-govt-funding-will-have-to-offer-low-cost-plans/

White House says infrastructure deal includes $ 65 billion for broadband --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/28/22598636/white-house-infrastructure-broadband-package-bipartisan

On July 28, 2021, local time, it was announced that the Biden administration and bipartisan groups had generally agreed on a week-long discussion of an infrastructure investment bill that included a super-large $ 550 billion new investment. This infrastructure investment bill is a bill of the American Jobs Plan, a plan to reinforce the United States announced by the Biden administration in April 2021, and since June, discussions have continued on details such as securing financial resources.

President Biden announces US reinforcement plan 'American Jobs Plan', plans to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels and make national broadband-GIGAZINE

The contents of this agreement are 'the largest federal investment in public transportation in history', 'the largest federal investment in passenger railroads since the establishment of the National Railways Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) ', and 'the largest bridge since the construction of the interstate highway'. 'Federal investment' 'Most investment in drinking water and drainage infrastructure covering millions of households' 'Providing reliable high-speed Internet for all Americans' 'Most investment in clean energy transmission and electric vehicle infrastructure' Is the axis. The Biden administration plans to aim for economic growth, recovery of competitiveness, job creation, etc. in the United States with a super-large investment of 'about 1.2 trillion dollars (130 trillion yen) in 8 years' including 550 billion confirmed by this agreement. is.

However, IT media outlets such as The Verge and Ars Technica have expressed distrust about the so-called national broadband plan, which is one of the axes that reached the agreement this time, 'Providing reliable high-speed Internet for all Americans.' I am. The first suspicion of these media companies is the investment amount of '65 billion dollars (about 7.1 trillion yen)' to be allocated to the national total broadbandization plan. At the time of the announcement of the 'American Jobs Plan' in April 2021, it was said that '100 billion dollars (about 11 trillion yen)' would be allocated to the national total broadband plan, so it was significantly reduced in the process of discussions. is.

Questions have also been raised about the use of public funds. Publicly funded telecommunications companies will be required to provide consumers with 'cheap and affordable' internet plans and an easy way to 'compare plans' between providers. The details are undecided. It is not even defined whether low-cost, easy-to-use Internet plans will be available to all households or only to households that meet specific income requirements.

Similarly, there is no definition for 'high speed' on the high-speed Internet, and there are no specific provisions for upload and download speeds. According to Light Reading , a telecommunications market analysis company, the draft under discussion states that 'download speed is 100 Mbps & upload speed is 20 Mbps', but the Electronic Frontier Foundation said that this speed will be 'new cable in the future'. Since it has to be laid, it will cost more in the long run. '

Electronic Frontier Foundation recommends that the United States needs an infrastructure with 'download speed 100Mbps & upload speed 100Mbps' --GIGAZINE

The bill agreed this time will be deliberated on July 29, 2021 Japan time. For Biden President agreed, 'blue-collar people is a blueprint to rebuild the United States, what it is that in order to connect to the historical long-term boom in a historic economic recovery' and comments have been.