Millions of Americans still don’t have access to high-speed internet. Christopher Ali, a professor of telecommunications at Penn State University, discusses who lacks access to broadband and how the federal government – with a US$65 billion commitment – is trying to bring more people online.
Christopher Ali discusses the challenges in bringing high-speed internet to underserved America.
The Conversation has collaborated with SciLine to bring you highlights from the discussion that have been edited for brevity and clarity.
What is broadband internet?
Christopher Ali: Broadband internet, often just called broadband, is the technical term for high-speed internet connectivity.
The Federal Communications Commission, which is in charge of setting an official definition for broadband in the country, defines broadband as an always-on internet connection of 100 megabits-per-second download and 20 megabits-per-second upload.
But what high-speed internet fundamentally means to Americans is do we have the connectivity necessary to go about our digital lives. Can we stream Netflix? Can we go on Zoom? Can we file our taxes? Can we do our homework? Can we do our jobs? Can we game?
What can you tell us about disparities in broadband access?
Christopher Ali: One of the really frustrating things is, despite millions – tens of millions – of dollars spent on broadband mapping, we are still unsure of who is underconnected throughout the country.
Right now, the FCC reports that 7.2 million people lack access, but the commission numbers have been historically suspect. As a result, there are no doubt many more who are unserved and undercounted. In fact, the FCC repeatedly receives challenges to its broadband map.
Back in 2021, for instance, when the FCC reported that about 14 million people lacked internet access, an independent review found that 42 million people lacked access. That’s a huge discrepancy.
But one thing is certain: Broadband deserts are most often found in rural, remote and Indigenous areas.
It’s also clear that cost is part of the issue. Here in the U.S., we pay a tremendous amount of money – the most for internet access monthly than almost any other country in the developed world.
A program called the Affordable Connectivity Program subsidizes broadband for low-income families, and 50 million families across the country are eligible.
Without robust broadband access, communities risk being sidelined in the 21st century economy.
What benefits does broadband access provide?
Christopher Ali: Broadband access can aid with economic development. It can be a game changer when it comes to telehealth, especially for rural, remote and Indigenous communities, which often don’t have enough doctors and nurses. With telehealth, you can suddenly connect with a health care professional.
It aids in education. Some studies have found that…