On Tuesday, your Chamber’s Infrastructure Committee convened an outstanding group of experts to discuss issues that impact the success of our entire community. The first half of the meeting centered around the possibility of a Senate bill focused on infrastructure, while the second half covered broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion.
Will Batson, legislative assistant for Senator Ted Cruz, remains optimistic about an infrastructure bill; however, Batson shared that the Senate is focused on a fifth coronavirus recovery package. Next in importance is FY21 Appropriations, as the appropriations process is already underway in the House. Concerns remain regarding how to pay for the infrastructure bill passed by the House, the
Moving Forward Act. Batson concluded his remarks by encouraging committee members to submit priorities for the next coronavirus package to Senator Cruz.
Jordan Crenshaw, Executive Director and Policy Counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC), briefed the Committee on national broadband conversations and the U.S. Chamber’s policy priorities. Though the United States leads the world in quality of broadband, millions of Americans lack access to broadband. Smart funding is a key priority for the U.S. Chamber, as funding mechanisms are outdated, which has resulted in woefully inadequate mapping. Crenshaw shared resources with the group for further reading:
Rounding out the expert briefings, Brian Dillard, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of San Antonio, provided an update on the City’s digital inclusion projects. On Tuesday, June 23, the City of San Antonio’s Office of Innovation briefed the City Council Innovation and Technology Committee on their proposed digital inclusion strategy. Two major updates – the Digital Inclusion Survey & Assessment and the “Connected Beyond the Classroom” project – were presented. The survey and assessment were completed prior to COVID-19, and the project is being funded as part of the $270 million dollars in federal funding that the City of San Antonio received through the CARES Act. Additional information can be found at the links below:
Don’t miss the next conversation around infrastructure - join the Chamber, and get involved. For more information, contact Stephanie Reyes, Vice President of Public Policy, by email at
sreyes@sachamber.org or by phone at 210-229-2162.
