Around 25% of Fresno County homes are without internet. What’s happening to fix it?

In an era where most people take mobile broadband technology for granted, one out of four Fresno County households lack any internet access whatsoever – not even a smartphone. It’s indicative of a “digital divide” that puts low-income and rural households at an economic and educational disadvantage relative to residents who have ready access to up-to-date internet technology. Nationwide, about 17 million households – or 14% of U.S. households – have no internet access. In Fresno County, it’s more than 73,600 households — roughly 25 percent. The Federal Communications Commission, through its Connect America Fund Phase II auctions, is spending $13.5 million over the next 10 years to provide broadband service to about 5,600 rural homes and businesses in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties. In Fresno County, the FCC’s investment of about $4.1 million will cover about 1,800 homes and businesses – but that’s a relative drop in the bucket among the estimated 73,600 households that lack internet access in the county.