Coronavirus exposes the digital divide's toll

As the coronavirus pushes more human activities online, it's forcing a reckoning with the often-invisible digital divide. Both the government and private sector are moving to online systems and operations, but not everyone in the US can easily follow. "Coronavirus, without some immediate changes being made, is certainly going to exacerbate the haves and have nots for who's digitally connected," said Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. He wants the FCC to direct funds toward helping serve connectivity needs laid bare by coronavirus. "We need to think creatively on how we're going to help the American people through a time of crisis," said Commissioner Starks. "I firmly believe that families are going to rely on connectivity in a way that they've never done before. And the FCC has to lead."