Closing the digital divide is an urgent need. There are immediate solutions at our fingertips

May 23, 2022

Given the pivotal role that high-speed internet played in allowing us to stay connected and continue functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that it is a vital resource that all Americans deserve to be able to access and afford.

Unfortunately, millions of Americans are still without this necessity, putting them at a significant disadvantage in virtually all facets of modern life.

While a small number of Americans, particularly those in very rural areas, aren’t online because they lack access to broadband infrastructure, there are two prime causes fueling this digital divide, the first being the affordability gap, meaning people who can’t afford the cost of an internet subscription, and the second being the adoption gap, or people who aren’t online because they lack the necessary digital skills or fail to see its value.