The COVID-19 Pandemic, the Digital Divide, and Solutions to Address Both

COVID-19 devastated communities across the globe and resulted in economic closures forcing much of the nation’s population to stay home for extended periods. Forced to work, learn, and access healthcare from home, many Americans are relying on broadband more heavily than ever before. Federal responses to this new reality have been swift: a $200 million appropriation for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt a COVID-19 telehealth pilot program, funds for distance learning, and a slew of changes at the statutory and regulatory level to enable telehealth and digital remote patient monitoring.

The sudden shift to conducting our lives on the internet is increasing the spotlight on the digital divide, as those who lack access to broadband are at an even greater disadvantage than prior to the pandemic. Fortunately, the FCC is proceeding with rules to enable the use of otherwise underutilized airwaves in the television band for unlicensed broadband. This is an important step in closing the digital divide because television white spaces (TVWS) will play an important role in reaching otherwise unconnected Americans with cost-effective, high-speed broadband.

 Join this virtual briefing to:

  -       Hear from FCC Commissioners past and present on the response by the Commission during this unprecedented time to get broadband out to those who need it,

  -       Understand the existing barriers to widespread broadband deployment—including that of TVWS—and the specific barriers to deployment at this time, and

  -       Consider what Congress can do to bridge the digital divide now and in the future.

Fireside chat speakers will include:

  -       Hon. Mike O’Rielly, FCC Commissioner

  -       Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC Commissioner

  -       Morgan Reed, President, ACT | The App Association (Facilitator)

Panel participants will include:

  -       Hon. Mignon Clyburn, Former FCC Commissioner and Acting FCC Chairwoman

  -       Elizabeth Henry, Director of Administration and Health Policy Advisor, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)

  -       Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Fellow, Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings Institution

  -       Graham Dufault, Senior Director for Public Policy, ACT | The App Association (Moderator)

This is a widely attended event and is open to the press.