An Analysis Of State Level Covid 19 Related Legislation Related To Internet Governance, Access, Infrastructure

Throughout the pandemic, state legislatures have attempted to mitigate many of the disastrous effects that have impacted the economy, public education, telecommunications, and other spheres. One important front on which many lawmakers do work is internet related legislation. While this is a broad category (infrastructure, access, equity, governance, public and private investment), all of it shares a common thread of trying to bridge gaps between societal problems and most accessible solutions within state lines. Some of those specific problems include (but are certainly not limited to) remote schooling (from Pre-K through postsecondary), the exacerbation of limited broadband access in rural areas, telehealth, and a possible widening of the digital divide.