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Cable Fears Ease as Senators Aim Broadband Subsidies to Unserved

  • Infrastructure bill would target areas without basic service
  • Comcast, other providers feared subsidized competitors
Working From Home And Learning Remotely As Illinois Positivity Rate Drops
Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Negotiators of the Senate infrastructure bill have agreed to focus its broadband subsidies on areas lacking basic internet, easing concerns of cable providers such as Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications Inc. that they’d face widespread taxpayer-funded competition by faster services.

The agreement was reached by senators working on the $579 billion tax-and-spending package, said a congressional aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because there hasn’t been a formal announcement.