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Neglecting to map regions where both affordability and accessibility limit high-speed Internet subscriptions can undermine effectiveness.
June 14, 2024 – Broadband experts said collecting data that accurately tracks the adoption of broadband services is critical to connecting every unserved and underserved address in the United States. the goal set by the Biden Administration in its Internet for All initiativein one Broadband Breakfast Live Online event on Wednesday.
Panelists warned that failure to map areas where affordability and accessibility limit high-speed Internet subscriptions could hinder the effectiveness of the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment program. Money is not allocated to areas where service is offered, but adoption is low because of affordability barriers because broadband maps show these areas are covered, they said.
Broadband Breakfast 12 June 2024 – Digital Inclusion and Smart Cities
The dream of smart cities depends on providing universal internet access to all residents
Broadband and Digital Inclusion Manager for the City of Oakland, California Juliet Yates stressed that the presentation of these data to local legislators and Congress is crucial. It brings attention to the urgent need for subsidies to tackle the ongoing problem of broadband affordability, ensuring it does not go unsolved.
According to Yates, broadband offices should create maps that outline areas of affordability challenges.
Denise Shoreypresident of e-Luminosity, a consulting firm that focuses on developing high-capacity networks, found that in minority and low-income communities, over 40 percent of households in the city of Pueblo, Colorado are unconnected even though areas are considered by the Federal Communications Commission to serve.
of Affordable Link Program now expiredwhich offered low-income families a discount on high-speed broadband subscriptions, provided a map of families enrolled in the programwhich was used as a way to map areas that did not have affordable broadband access.
The map did not detail which US addresses were not connected to the Internet due to affordability and adoption barriers.
panelists
- Juliet Fink-YatesBroadband and Digital Inclusion Manager, City of Philadelphia
- Luisa Calumpong, Broadband Manager, City of Oakland
- J. Randolph LueningFounder, BroadbandToolkit.com
- Denise Atkinson-Shorey, President, e-Luminosity
- Delia SanchezCommunity Engagement Specialist, Colorado Office of Broadband
- Drew Clark (moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast
Broadband Breakfast 12 June 2024 – Digital Inclusion and Smart Cities
The dream of smart cities depends on providing universal internet access to all residents
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Image Source : broadbandbreakfast.com