The Broadband Gap: Forward Look 2021

When it comes to broadband, 2020 has shined a light on the fact that US broadband networks have performed remarkably well during the COVID-19 pandemic, and exposed the socio economic consequences of being disconnected from the essential benefits of digital economy. 

Despite the sudden data crush from millions suddenly working from home, U.S. broadband speeds actually increased this year. Many credit those results to the current Republican lead FCC whose deregulatory approach to telecommunications policy has spurred billions in investment. That’s in sharp contrast to most of Europe, where speeds declined and regulators had to ask major entertainment companies to throttle the quality of their video streams.

Now the bad news: millions of Americans remain isolated from the benefits of digital opportunity and still don’t have broadband internet access at home. That includes 17 million students and 1 in 3 students of color. A recent Deutsche Bank analysis warned of a rapidly approaching “unemployment abyss” for Latinos, Blacks and other minority communities. “The exponential growth of the digital economy is going to leave large chunks of minorities with little or no access to jobs.” 

For Latino, Black, Indigenous, and rural communities the lack of internet connectivity is impacting their ability to live, learn and earn and carries with it the potential to further entrench the systemic inequalities of the past. This topic is at the center of Latino Tech priorities and was main stage at this year’s inaugural Digital Inclusion Summit. In addition, this same topic was recently discussed in an interview by the Washington Post featuring longtime Post editor David Ignatius and AT&T CEO John Stankey where he made a compelling argument for what is at stake for disconnected communities and what it’s going to take to achieve universal broadband access. 

As we transition into 2021, we need to look into moving the debate over Federal internet policy to a more realistic standard, and work collaboratively with Federal officials to take swift action to expand digital opportunity for all Americans.