MARCH 2019 CWA Broadband Infrastructure Proposal CWA Broadband Infrastructure Proposal

Broadband is the essential infrastructure of the 21st ties. Without competition and regulatory oversight, century. A high-speed connection provides big cable monopolies charge working people high a gateway to economic growth, jobs, education, prices and deliver poor service and have few or no healthcare, public safety, energy efficiency, civic par- incentives to invest in new services and technology. ticipation, and communication among friends and family. Despite its importance, broadband access CWA urges members of Congress to implement and use remains dismal. the following broadband infrastructure solutions that will best serve working people. By doing so, it Over the last 30 years, deregulation has left policy- will help guarantee universal access to high-speed makers with few tools to require universal buildout broadband, close the , and promote of affordable high-speed networks for all communi- good jobs in the industry.

More than 24 million Americans – including 19 million rural 2018 Broadband Deployment Americans – still lack access to broadband service at 25/3 Report, Federal Communica- Mbps speeds. tions Commission

2018 Broadband Deployment About half of US households have only one choice – cable – Report, Federal Communica- for high-speed broadband. tions Commission

Broadband use and adoption remain below optimal levels: only 67 percent of people in the US have a wired broad- Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet band connection. The percentage is even worse for low-in- 2018, Pew Research Center come, African-American, and Hispanic communities.

CWA Broadband Infrastructure Proposal / 2 CWA Broadband 1. Good Jobs and Infrastructure Proposal Labor Standards Public policy that encourages investment in broadband U.S. Households: Choices networks must be grounded in policies of that support the growth of good jobs, fair labor stan- dards, and respect for workers’ rights in the Minimim broadband speeds of 25/3 Mbps telecommunications industry.

To achieve these goals, Congress should require that 3% THREE CHOICES any group who receives public assistance to build out broadband infrastructure must: 19% TWO CHOICES

a. Pay prevailing wages and benefits; 48% ONE CHOICE b. Respect existing collective bargaining agreements and related work jurisdiction; ZERO CHOICE c. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws and 30% regulations, on labor, employment, environmen

tal, and workplace health and safety; and FCC's Services Report 06/30/15 d. If workers on the federally-supported broadband project are not covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement: U.S. Broadband Access i. Permit workers to consider organizing a Minimim broadband speeds of 25/3 Mbps union by providing union access to the workers and remaining neutral about unionization in the workplace; and, ii. Recognize the union as the collective bar 5M 23M 19M gaining representative, if the employees choose to form a union by presenting valid authorization cards from a majority of employees in the bargaining unit; and URBAN TOTAL RURAL iii. If an initial collective bargaining agree ment is not reached within 90 days, refer Houshols that still lacks access to broad- band speeds of 25 Mbps for downloads the dispute to an arbitration board at the and 3 Mbps for uploads (25/3 Mbps) -- the request of the union or the employer; FCC’s definition of the minimum expecta- Incorporate these labor standards into ble broadband speeds. their agreements with contractors and subcontractors.

CWA Broadband Infrastructure Proposal / 3 2. Closing the Rural Digital Divide

A. Accelerate the buildout of broadband B. Buildout of Next Generation Networks to unserved communities with $40 bi- llion in direct funding. An unserved commu- i. Raise the “broadband speed” benchmark to nity eligible for funding is a community that lacks 100/10 Mbps. The United States is falling behind access to broadband speeds of 25 Mbps for down- other nations in terms of broadband speeds. We do loads and 3 Mbps for uploads (25/3 Mbps) -- the not even break the top-10. If the FCC won’t take the FCC’s definition of the minimum expectable broad- appropriate action to correct this, Congress should band speeds. The FCC calculates that $40 billion set the broadband benchmark to 100/10 Mbps to would provide the support the private sector needs encourage high-speed broadband deployment to reach 98 percent of the currently unserved, largely that will ensure the United States leads the world in rural communities with broadband infrastructure Internet speeds and deployment. that will not readily become obsolete (i.e., futu- re-proof). In planning a broadband infrastructure ii. Fiber buildout and Smart cities. The need program, Congress should set standards that require for universal affordable high-speed broadband for robust speeds, minimal delays, and other quality homes, businesses, and community institutions is measures, including the labor standards outlined crucial. Making sure these fiber optic lines are cons- above to promote employment of skilled, career tantly updated and maintained ensures that we are employees and good jobs in local communities. To ready to keep the US ahead of the curve. For exam- ensure efficient allocation of resources, the broad- ple, a partnership between Verizon and the City of band infrastructure program should avoid duplica- Boston allowed Verizon to build their fiber network tive overbuilding and build upon the success of the through the “One Fiber” initiative that expanded FCC’s Connect America Fund in leveraging expertise, residential broadband and provided the city with maximizing sustainability, and speed of deploy- smart transportation technology. ment. Reverse auctions can serve as an effective distribution mechanism of resources. Congress should fund a “Model Digital Communi- ties” grant program through a public-private part- nership model, to develop fast and reliable infras- tructure that supports residential broadband, is flexible enough to accommodate new business mo- dels, and fosters transparency of the entire buildout process. Additionally, the “Model Digital Communi- Only 67 percent of people in the US ties” grant program should require all recipients to 67% have a wired broadband connection. abide by the labor standards outlined above.

CWA Broadband Infrastructure Proposal / 4 iii. Fiber buildout and municipal broadband. CWA supports a system of rules that would hold broadband service providers accountable to build universal, quality fiber networks. But such a system of rules does not cu- In order for CWA to support municipal broad- band, there must be provisions that include rrently exist and this continues to impact working people good jobs, labor standards, and workers’ rights; who are left behind without a reliable connection to the demonstrate financial and operational viability; Internet. Problems such as these have led some commu- and include enforceable commitments to provi- nities to consider financing, building, and operating their de affordable high-speed broadband access to unserved or underserved communities. own broadband networks. However, the record shows that most of these projects have not been successful. 2.5 GHz licenses and the authority to auction off that If the major broadband service providers refuse to build spectrum. Congress should direct the FCC to do so, universal high-speed fiber networks, policymakers may and use a portion of those auction funds to begin a develop plans for municipal broadband initiatives. In Homework Gap initiative to help students across the order for CWA to support such municipal broadband country. projects, at a minimum, they must include provisions for good jobs, labor standards, and workers’ rights; demons- vi. Protect and support the Lifeline program. trate financial and operational viability; and include About 40 million people are eligible for the Lifeline enforceable commitments to provide affordable hi- program, which provides a modest monthly subsidy gh-speed broadband access to unserved or underserved to help low-income households access essential communities. communications services, including broadband. Yet only 10 million people have enrolled in the program. iv. wireless and small cell technology. Wireless The current FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai, has not done companies are installing hundreds of thousands of “sma- enough to get the remaining 30 million people signed ll cells” (low-powered cellular ) on utility and light up to the program. Instead his FCC has attacked the poles to increase the power of today’s wireless ne- program by instituting unnecessary restrictions and tworks and in preparation for next-generation 5G networ- caps, which threaten to undermine this vital program. ks. Local governments across the country are crafting His scheme has caused enrollment in the Lifeline pro- rules that encourage private sector installation of small gram to drop by 30 percent. Congress should act to cells consistent with their responsibility to protect public protect the Lifeline program from these attacks, and rights of way and to support digital inclusion programs. support the low-income households who rely on it. Congress should resist pressure from corporate lobbyists to preempt local authority. Congress should also recog- Homework Gap nize that 5G wireless networks rely on a robust, ubiqui- tous fiber infrastructure.

C. Affordable Broadband for All Children with out access Teachers who assign to broadband homework online 12 Million 70% v. Close Homework Gap with spectrum auction. Seven in ten teachers assign homework that requires ac- Lifeline Program cess to broadband. At the same time, 12 million children do not have the access to broadband at home which they need to complete their homework assignments. People who haven't been Enrollment decline This Homework Gap is unacceptable. Congress must enrolled in the program under Ajit Pai's FCC act now and address this problem. The FCC has unused 30 Million 30%

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