Bridging the digital divide: Investing where it counts

In 2020, we saw the consequences of the digital divide: the have and the have nots of broadband. Many students—particularly children and those residing in predominantly rural areas—fell unacceptably behind. 2021 is proving to be no different, and in some communities, it is even more dire, as many schools offer fewer online options for families. Thankfully, there are a few ways we can ensure that students are not left behind:

1. Congress must provide the necessary funding to ensure every student has a fast, reliable, and affordable Internet connection to access quality education online.
2. The Biden Administration, Congress, local government, community groups, and existing Internet service providers must come together to create accurate broadband maps.
3. Schools must have equitable access to the necessary resources, helped by programs like the Emergency Connectivity Fund.
4. More must be done to remedy the policy roadblocks to community-based networks, or municipalities will continue to face challenges in providing local broadband services to their citizens.

[Jane Coffin is Senior Vice President for Internet Growth at the Internet Society.]