Biden wants to close the digital divide in the US. Here's what that could look like

Historically, the government has subsidized the building of broadband networks by offering incentives to private companies such as Verizon, Comcast and AT&T. But in a break from the past, Biden's proposal calls for prioritizing funding, for the first time, to community-built networks. And the plan isn't just focused on building out broadband in rural or outlying areas. Some of the most persistent examples of the digital divide can be found in dense urban neighborhoods struggling with poverty or inequality. In many of these areas, local organizations have had to step in where commercial internet providers saw little potential profit. The White House wants to support these initiatives by local governments, non-profits and cooperatives, it has said, because they provide services with "less pressure to turn profits and with a commitment to serving entire communities." Commercial internet providers have bristled at that language. Proponents have argued that by providing a public option for broadband access, cities can inject competition into markets that have been abandoned by private providers or are lacking competition.