Read the Kansas City Star op-ed by Angie Cooper here and below.

For most of human history, our basic needs — food, water, shelter and work — have stayed largely the same. But in today’s connected, digital world, one more essential has joined that list: access to high-speed internet.

In the three decades since the popularization of the world wide web, the American workplace has steadily moved online with more than 72% of employed Americans reporting that they could not do their jobs without access to the internet. It may surprise many, however, that 6.8 million U.S. households do not have reliable internet access in 2025, with a disproportionate 3.1 million of those households located in the heartland.

What is more, is that an increasing majority of American students report the need for internet access to complete schoolwork. Health care practitioners report telemedicine has the ability to significantly improve patient outcomes, and more than 92% of American jobs now require digital skills. Add onto this the emergence of artificial intelligence — which can only be used and leveraged online — as well as AI’s potential to reshape the way we live, work and communicate, and access to high speed internet is no longer a luxury in today’s economy. It’s as vital a necessity as running water and electricity.

While reliable internet access is a challenge for all under-connected Americans, the 20 states that make up America’s heartland are disproportionately affected by the connectivity crisis. When considering the collective goods and services produced by these states accounts for the third largest gross domestic product in the world, it is all the more critical that they not be left behind at this inflection point in our digital age.

So when did we start taking real action to address the connectivity crisis and the number one economic issue of our time?

In 2021, a bipartisan bill was approved in congress to officially help close the digital divide, connect households to high-speed internet and help communities build necessary digital skills. But nearly four years later, all 50 states are still waiting on those dollars. The current administration is working to push this program forward — setting a hard deadline for states to complete their program applications and for funds to be distributed as soon as possible. As they look to move this program from concept to completion, there are three primary objectives that should be met.

The first is to help ensure all under-connected Americans get access to high-speed internet as quickly as possible. Every day that Americans remain unconnected leaves hundreds of millions of dollars in lost economic potential on the table.

The second is to ensure that the high-speed internet access provided to communities is sustainable long-term. If we think about internet connectivity much like our other basic necessities — running water, food or electricity — the reliable availability of those resources is essential to families, communities and our economy. Access to quality high-speed internet is what will help unlock economic opportunity and potential for under-connected Americans.

The third priority is ensuring that all Americans have the digital tools and skills necessary to accelerate economic growth across the country. Nearly one-third of the U.S. workforce is underprepared for the demands of a digital economy — a gap that widens with the rise of artificial intelligence. In the coming years, AI is projected to affect 40% to 60% of jobs, yet more than half of American workers report low confidence in using these tools, and fewer than 1% consider themselves highly proficient. Public investment in digital skills training has the potential to generate significant economic returns, both for individuals and for the broader economy, and as the federal government deploys these critical infrastructure dollars, it must also prioritize funding for state and local digital skills programs — where training can be tailored to community needs and equip Americans not just to adapt, but to thrive.

Access to high-speed internet is no longer a question of convenience — it is a cornerstone of economic participation, education and workforce opportunities across the country. As we invest in building the physical infrastructure to connect every home and business, we must also build the human infrastructure to ensure Americans will be successful and competitive now and in the future.

The window to act is narrowing, and the urgency has never been greater, but if we get this right — connecting communities, future-proofing infrastructure and investing in AI and digital skills — we will be laying the foundation for the heartland and America to win.