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ATLANTA, GA (June 27, 2023) – The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) today called on states to prioritize Black communities, especially in healthcare deserts, as they receive millions or even billions of federal dollars for infrastructure over the next two years. President Biden on Monday announced how much each state and U.S. territory will receive through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program.
More than $40 billion was earmarked for this program through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. From there, states must submit initial plans later this year on how they will connect rural and poor communities to high-speed internet – at which point 20% of their allocated funds will be unlocked. The remaining dollars will be released once states’ plans are finalized over the next two years.
CNBC called on states to prioritize connecting Black communities in their plans. A 2021 Pew
Research Center survey found just 71% of Black adults have a broadband internet connection at home. That in turn can limit their ability to access telehealth services, which have increased in popularity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The federal government has made the most significant, transformative investment in public infrastructure in nearly a century,”the CNBC Board of Directors, led by Chairman, Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, said in a joint statement. “It should be viewed as just step one in finally closing the digital divide – one we have only seen widen these last three years. Now, it is crucial that states ensure these investments fulfill their promise of connecting those who need high-speed internet the most: Black, poor, and rural communities. We represent a significant majority of households without internet, which makes it harder for us to find jobs, get medical care, or excel academically.
High-speed internet will be a game-changer for these communities. Telehealth went from a nice idea to a vital part of medicine practically overnight because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has the potential to combat comorbidities and save more lives by making it easier for Black Americans to see their doctor. They no longer have to weigh missing a day of work over accessing care. Broadband connectivity will have the power to save lives. CNBC urges states to ensure Black communities see their fair shares of these broadband dollars, so we can have fair access to high-speed internet and the opportunities that come with it.”
About The Conference of National Black Churches:
The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) is the premiere public policy and social justice expression of the Black ecclesiastical denominations comprising CNBC in America. CNBC is comprised of the national leadership of the largest historically Black denominations in America: The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME), Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC), National Baptist Convention of America USA, Inc (NBCUSA) and the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC); representing more than 80% of African American Christians across this nation with a combined membership of over 25 million people and 31,000 congregations.
