Congress must extend benefit to close the digital divide

Before his passing, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, an iconic voice for civil rights and human rights, called Internet access the “civil rights issue of the 21st century.” This is indeed the case. The COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on the fact that still too many Americans are without internet access in a world that requires online job applications, where telehealth appointments are an option and where our children rely on virtual-learning opportunities. The internet is a necessity for everyday life in the 21st century.