Connect Humanity Announces New Impact Fund With Support From Microsoft To Tackle Appalachia’s Digital Divide

Connect Humanity, a non-profit impact investor, announced it is collaborating with Microsoft to support high-speed internet access and adoption in underserved Appalachian communities. Appalachia is one of the least digitally connected regions of the United States, with households 31 percent more likely than the national population to lack a broadband subscription. In some Appalachian counties, fewer than 20 percent of households use the internet at broadband speeds in a time when connectivity is critically important for education, health, and remote work. With 80 percent of jobs now advertised solely online and 92 percent requiring digital skills, this lack of access represents a major hurdle for Appalachian residents. To tackle this digital divide, Connect Humanity’s IDEA Fund (Investing in Digital Equity Appalachia) plans to invest in community-focused Internet Service Providers (ISPs) which are best placed to meet the digital needs of residents and businesses in Appalachia’s unserved areas.