Congress should address the digital divide by shifting the focus of U.S. broadband policy from deployment subsidies to a targeted affordability program for low-income households.

To Do: Create a New and Improved Affordable Connectivity Program

The United States has spent decades and billions of dollars to achieve universal broadband access. Yet the digital divide continues because many Americans still face barriers to affordability or lag in digital literacy. It’s time for a bold rethinking of broadband policy to match today’s realities.

Broadband Policies Are Wasting the Chance to Make America Connected

The recent dramatic sea change in broadband funding must come with a shift in priorities as policymakers continue efforts to close the digital divide.

Congress Should Prioritize the Affordable Connectivity Program for Broadband Funding

Congress should create a more targeted and durable Affordable Connectivity Program by aligning funding priorities with the remaining causes of the digital divide. By prioritizing affordability rather than deployment, the new program can connect low-income households without new federal spending.

A Blueprint for Broadband Affordability

NTIA has recognized technologies like low-earth orbit satellites and fixed-wireless access should be included in BEAD’s guidelines to reduce the amount spent on deployment.

Done: Make the Broadband Equity, Access, and Inclusion (BEAD) Program Technology Neutral

States are set to receive billions of dollars in federal funding—enough to close the digital divide once and for all. Following these 10 commandments will ensure they make the most of the money and citizens get the connectivity they need.

Ten (Suggested) Commandments for Closing the Digital Divide

Momentum for an infrastructure package presents a tremendous opportunity to close the digital divide. Policymakers should avoid a political stalemate by eschewing utility-style broadband overbuilding and instead focus on pragmatic expansion of cost-effective, competitive networks.

Refining the Biden Broadband Proposal

People with the fewest resources stand to benefit the most from broadband connectivity, but the most effective subsidy program to bridge the gap between low-income consumers and broadband—the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)—is set to run out of money by 2024.

People Most Likely to Benefit From Connectivity Are Least Likely to Have Broadband; New Report Urges Steps to Reach Near-Universal Broadband Access

Early proposals from the administration indicated an intent to transform broadband into an old-fashioned utility through massive, wasteful overbuilding. Significant improvements to the draft legislation have brought it much closer to something ITIF could support.

To Do: Reform Broadband Subsidies

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

Sustain Affordable Connectivity By Ending Obsolete Broadband Programs

Measuring Digital Literacy Gaps Is the First Step to Closing Them

The Digital Inclusion Outlook: What It Looks Like and Where It’s Lacking

Related

To Do: Create a New and Improved Affordable Connectivity Program

Broadband Policies Are Wasting the Chance to Make America Connected

Congress Should Prioritize the Affordable Connectivity Program for Broadband Funding