High-speed broadband is an essential utility for Americans to learn, work, access public services, and engage with their government and community. Tens of millions of residents nationwide still lack reliable, high-quality broadband access. Without addressing broadband costs, it is unlikely communities will close the digital divide.

Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern American society. But the United States faces a persistent and growing “digital divide” — a gulf between those with access to and ability to use affordable, reliable broadband and those without. This persistent and growing divide is a barrier to equitable access to critical services and economic prosperity, with a disproportionate impact on low-income Americans, communities of color, and rural communities.

Today, approximately 29 million of the 123 million households in the United States do not have high-speed broadband. Despite the availability of affordable broadband plans for the last ten years, 20 million of these households, representing over 55 million people, are offline because they cannot afford an available Internet connection. Many of those unconnected are eligible for federal subsidy programs that are already in place, but either do not know about them or do not know how to sign up. Furthermore, in America’s most unconnected communities, where 38% of households do not have home broadband, 20-25% of these residents without broadband live in low-income apartment buildings. By installing infrastructure for free Wi-Fi into these buildings, we can make a significant impact on closing the digital divide.

Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern American society. But the United States faces a persistent and growing “digital divide” — a gulf between those with access to affordable, reliable broadband and those without it.