Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined a bipartisan group of bicameral colleagues in reintroducing the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (BGTTA) — legislation that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to ensure that all funding for broadband deployment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) is available to support expanding broadband access. This legislation was first introduced last Congress in both the Senate and the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
Grants awarded for the purposes of broadband deployment are currently factored into a company’s income and are subject to taxation. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation moves to exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through the IIJA, ARP, and Tribal Broadband Connectivity Fund from an organization’s income, ensuring the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country can be used wholly for that purpose.
“Access to the internet is not a luxury, it is a fundamental necessity. However, too many families remain on the wrong side of the digital divide. Students, workers, families, innovators, and businesses of all sizes depend on reliable, affordable broadband more than ever, and that’s why we made historic investments in broadband deployment and digital equity during the last Congress,” said Sen. Menendez. “This commonsense bipartisan legislation will maximize the impact and success of these investments by ensuring these dollars fully support expanding access to broadband.”
Joining Sen. Menendez in introducing this legislation in the Senate are Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz,), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-Pa.-16), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-20), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.-07), Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.-03), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.-01), and Dan Kildee (D-Mich.-08) introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives.
The bipartisan BGTTA is supported by many trade organizations including the Competitive Carriers Association; USTelecom; Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA); WTA – Advocates for Rural Broadband; and WISPA – Broadband Without Boundaries.
Sen. Menendez has been a long-time advocate for expanding access to broadband, especially in underserved communities. With more New Jersey families relying on the internet for telework and telehealth following the COVID-19 crisis, Sen. Menendez helped secure $65 billion in funding within the bipartisan infrastructure law to help deploy broadband, increase access to high-quality internet, and decrease costs associated with connecting to the internet. Sen. Menendez also led efforts in the American Rescue Plan to deliver $17 billion in funding for broadband expansion across the country.
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