WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today voted to confirm Alan Davidson as Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In his new role, Davidson will be responsible for overseeing the distribution of the historic broadband investments included in last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Included in this historic $65 billion broadband funding was $40 billion reflecting Senator King’s bipartisan BRIDGE Act, which is designed to allow states to address pressing local broadband needs. Davidson’s nomination was confirmed by a vote of 60-31.

“Last year, Congress passed a historic, long-overdue investment in the digital infrastructure that powers 21st century life,” said Senator King. “These funds carry the potential to fundamentally transform communities that have been left behind in the modern economy – but in order to fully realize the law’s potential, execution is just as important as vision. Alan Davidson is a strongly qualified, deeply experienced public servant with the skills and knowledge needed to make sure we maximize every single dollar of these broadband funds. This is our moment to expand access to affordable, high-speed broadband connections, and I’m confident Alan is the right person to lead this vital agency. I look forward to working alongside him to help Americans across the country access the economic, educational, and health benefits available with a reliable broadband connection.”

As co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus, Senator King has been a strong advocate for expanding affordable broadband access as a way to increase economic opportunity in rural Maine – to do away with the “digital divide” holding back millions of Americans – and has raised the issue consistently during the coronavirus pandemic. After Senator King’s advocacy and negotiation, President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to invest $65 billion in broadband infrastructure across the nation. The IIJA’s historic broadband provisions include over $40 billion in block grants to states and $2 billion for tribal governments, mirroring Senator King’s bipartisan BRIDGE Act and the Digital Equity Act, he championed to invest $2.75 billion in an array of projects at the state and local level that promote “digital equity.” This is in addition to securing $10 billion in funding for broadband in the American Rescue Plan, as well as more than $7 billion to close the digital divide for students nationwide. Together, these constitute the largest investment in broadband in the nation’s history – which Senator King compares to the transformational investment of rural electrification in the 20th century.