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For nearly 35 years, the Benton Foundation has been committed to promoting policy solutions to make sure all Americans have equitable and affordable access to information infrastructure (notably to broadband Internet service) and to information and knowledge essential to community and individual development. We have reached a time in the United States where some segments of the population have reached near-100 percent broadband adoption rates. For these populations, market forces can be sufficient to get us to our goal of universal adoption. But there are nagging, persistent divides in adoption rates. To reach universal adoption and realize a truly inclusive digital society, we must understand why market forces are not enough to connect everyone and we must seek solutions that close the digital divides.
<strong><em>Here's the latest research on broadband adoption:</em></strong>
<ul>
<li>Colin Rhinesmith and Angela Siefer. “<a href="https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/outcomes-based-evaluation.pdf... Inclusion Outcomes Based Evaluation</a>.” Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, May 2017.
(benton.org/outcomes-based-evaluation-report)
<li>Siefer, Angela, Katherine Bates, and Colin Rhinesmith. <a href="https://www.benton.org/initiatives/libraries-broadband-adoption">Libraries' Increasing Role in Broadband Adoption</a>. Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, January 2016. (https://www.benton.org/initiatives/libraries-broadband-adoption)
<li>Rhinesmith, Colin. “<a href="https://www.benton.org/inclusion-adoption-report">Digital Inclusion and Meaningful Broadband Adoption Initiatives</a>.” Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, January 2016. (https://www.benton.org/inclusion-adoption-report)</li>
<li>Horrigan, John, and Maeve Duggan. “<a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2015/12/Broadband-adoption-full.pdf">Home Broadband 2015.</a>” Pew Research Center, December 2015. (http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2015/12/Broadband-adoption-full.pdf)</li>
<li>Haight, Michael and Anabel Quan-Haase. “<a href="https://www.benton.org/initiatives/digital-inclusion-project">Digital Inclusion Project: Findings and Implications, A Canadian Perspective</a>.” Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, December 2015. (https://www.benton.org/initiatives/digital-inclusion-project)</li>
<li>Whiteacre, Brian, and Colin Rhinesmith. "<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596115001937" title="Telecommunications Policy">Broadband un-adopters</a>." Telecommunications Policy, December 2015. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596115001937)</li>
</ul>
<strong><em>And don't forget these reports on broadband deployment and access:</em></strong>
<ul>
<li>Hovis, Joanne and Marc Schulhof, Jim Baller and Ashley Stelfox. <a href="https://www.benton.org/broadband-public-private-partnerships-report">The Emerging World of Broadband Public–Private Partnerships: A Business Strategy and Legal Guide</a> Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, May 2017</strong></em>. (https://www.benton.org/broadband-public-private-partnerships-report)</li>
<li>Levin, Blair and Denise Linn. <a href="https://www.benton.org/sites/default/files/nextgenhandbook.pdf">The Next Generation Network Connectivity Handbook: A Guide for Community Leaders Seeking Affordable, Abundant Bandwidth</a> Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, December 2016. (https://www.benton.org/initiatives/nextgenconnectivity)</li>
<li>Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition. <a href="http://www.shlb.org/action-plan">Connecting Anchor Institutions: A Broadband Action Plan</a>. Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, April 2016. http://www.shlb.org/action-plan</li>
<li>Hovis, Joanne and Marc Schulhof, Jim Baller and Ashley Stelfox. <a href="https://www.benton.org/broadband-public-private-partnerships-report">The Emerging World of Broadband Public–Private Partnerships: A Business Strategy and Legal Guide</a> Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, February 2016</strong></em>. (https://www.benton.org/broadband-public-private-partnerships-report)</li>
<li>Mitchell, Christopher. <a href="http://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/muni-bb-speed-light.pdf">Broa... at the Speed of Light: How Three Communities Built Next-Generation Networks</a>. Institute for Local Self-Reliance and the Benton Foundation. April 2012. (http://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/muni-bb-speed-light.pdf)</li>
</ul>
<strong><em>And the latest on how broadband is being used for the public interest:</em></strong>
<ul>
<li>Next Century Cities. “<a href="https://www.benton.org/NCC-civic-engagement">Five Lessons for Tech-Powered Civic Engagement: The Charles Benton Next Generation Engagement Award Playbook</a>.” Evanston, IL: Benton Foundation, September 2017. (https://www.benton.org/NCC-civic-engagement)</li>
</ul>