Nearly one-third of Americans age 14 or older used a public library computer or wireless network to access high-speed Internet in the past year, according to a report produced by the University of Washington Information School. Read More »
The Commerce Department has announced broadband investments totaling more than $29 million for the nation's two largest cities, Los Angeles and New York. The grants target computer-training programs and will allow more than 30,000 low-income students and their families online access to educational, employment, and health information. Read More »
President Barack Obama commended the FCC on its release of the National Broadband Plan and its framework for providing universal high-speed Internet and expanding technological opportunity in low-income communities. Read More »
The Communications Workers of America issued a statement in support of the National Broadband Plan's goals of providing universal high-speed Internet and a renewed focus on digital literacy. Many other public interest organizations also came out in support of the FCC's plan. Read More »
Private industry financing of broadband must increase in order to meet the United State's aggressive broadband adoption and deployment goals, according to a new Brookings Institution study. The FCC has estimated that it will require $350 billion to provide universal broadband coverage in the U.S. Read More »
In order to achieve universal broadband, the Universal Service Fund should be used to ensure nationwide access to high-speed Internet, according to the FCC. Currently, voice service is guaranteed to every American - regardless of geographic region or income level - through the universal service fund, but that right is not extended to broadband Internet connections. Read More »
The FCC will propose up to $25 billion in new federal spending for high-speed Internet lines and a wireless network for police and firefighters, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read More »
Increased transparency, quality of service, and availability would make low-income residents more likely to adopt broadband Internet service, says a report recently commissioned by the Federal Communications Commission. Read More »
A report released last week by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies shows that while minorities are the fastest growing group of broadband adopters, significant barriers to adoption - age, income, and education - remain. The study was designed to highlight minority adoption trends and provide insight into factors affecting minority Internet use. Read More »
On Tuesday the FCC released its National Broadband Plan Consumer Survey which found that affordability and lack of computer literacy are the main reasons why 93 million Americans are not connected to high-speed Internet in their homes. The survey results bolstered existing statistics that 80 million adults currently lack high-speed Internet. Most cited affordability, digital literacy, and relevance as the main barriers to adoption. Read More »
