Panel Addresses Adoption Growth Strategies
Broadband adoption remains one of the major hurdles to achieving broadband universality, especially among low-income communities. A panel event, hosted by Broadband Breakfast, brought together experts in the field to discuss opportunities to expand adoption and broadband access to the rest of the U.S.
The lack of broadband access in the United States is one of the roadblocks to achieving a true innovation economy and providing many Americans with health, education, and job resources.
According to National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator, Anna Gomez:
"This lack of access and speed means that one third of Americans are cut off from the growing digital economy. Not having access to broadband cuts citizens off from vital resources."
Individuals age 50 and older have the highest rates of non-adoption. The NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and the Project to Get Older Adults online hope to reverse this trend.
Questions of access represent the other half of the adoption challenge. In many rural communities broadband access either does not exist or is prohibitively expensive. As underscored by New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative Director Sascha Meinrath:
"Through our Measurement Lab project we've found that rural areas are systematically not being given access to high speeds. Also the prices paid by those in the middle of the country are much higher than those paid by people living on the coasts."
Speed Matters is committed to increasing broadband adoption and digital literacy. Everyone should have access to a fast, reliable, and inexpensive broadband connection and possess the tools necessary to navigate the web.
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