It turns out there are two digital divides in America. The first one is the familiar divide between those who have Internet subscriptions and those who don’t. Everyone agrees this is a persistent concern, with about 10 percent of the public lacking subscriptions at last count. But then we come to the second divide: There is a perennial policy debate over why the digital divide exists and what to do about it. This second digital divide is once again on full display around the latest edition of the biennial Communications Marketplace Report from the Federal Communications Commission. Those who think that broadband should fundamentally be in the hands of the government will no doubt claim it shows America’s private-sector broadband system is a failure; we are a backward nation with inadequate service offerings that are too expensive for consumers and too profitable for providers. The solution to this, advocates say, is to weaken corporate providers and strengthen non-corporate alternatives, including government-run networks. But the empirical evidence belies their claims. An evenhanded look at broadband data show that U.S. broadband infrastructure is not the problem; it’s a lack of adoption that’s causing the digital divide to persist. Read the op-ed.
It turns out there are two digital divides in America. The first one is the familiar divide between those who have Internet subscriptions and those who don’t. Everyone agrees this is a persistent concern, with about 10 percent of the public lacking subscriptions at last count. But then we come to the second divide: There is a perennial policy debate over why the digital divide exists and what to do about it. This second digital divide is once again on full display around the latest edition of the biennial Communications Marketplace Report from the Federal Communications Commission. Those who think that broadband should fundamentally be in the hands of the government will no doubt claim it shows America’s private-sector broadband system is a failure; we are a backward nation with inadequate service offerings that are too expensive for consumers and too profitable for providers. The solution to this, advocates say, is to weaken corporate providers and strengthen non-corporate alternatives, including government-run networks. But the empirical evidence belies their claims. An evenhanded look at broadband data show that U.S. broadband infrastructure is not the problem; it’s a lack of adoption that’s causing the digital divide to persist. Read the op-ed.
The funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promise to finally close the last remaining gaps in digital connectivity across the country. But as Jessica Dine writes in the trade publication For Construction Pros, this can only be accomplished with proper use of the money. Intelligent allocation geared toward maximizing the impact of each dollar spent and ensuring the success of chosen projects will go a long way in helping all states take full advantage of this one-time opportunity. ITIF’s recent report “Ten (Suggested) Commandments for Closing the Digital Divide” provides a framework around which policymakers should shape their decisions in order to maximize the efficiency of their funds. Read the commentary.
The funds offered through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promise to finally close the last remaining gaps in digital connectivity across the country. But as Jessica Dine writes in the trade publication For Construction Pros, this can only be accomplished with proper use of the money. Intelligent allocation geared toward maximizing the impact of each dollar spent and ensuring the success of chosen projects will go a long way in helping all states take full advantage of this one-time opportunity. ITIF’s recent report “Ten (Suggested) Commandments for Closing the Digital Divide” provides a framework around which policymakers should shape their decisions in order to maximize the efficiency of their funds. Read the commentary.
In this Route Fifty article, Kylie Cannon describes her experience working remotely in West Virginia. She also details her collaboration with the National Association of Counties and county leaders to better identify opportunities for post-pandemic economic resiliency.
