FCC’s Clyburn at NUL Convention: Cost, Not Relevance, Is Broadband Roadblock

Broadband is breaking down barriers to achievement for minorities, people with disabilities, and the poor. But, even as an equalizer of opportunities, even with all of the hope that broadband brings, too many in our community cannot afford to be connected. Too many of our schools and libraries have inadequate broadband speeds. Too many children lack broadband at home to complete homework. We have all heard that relevance, not cost, is the reason many do not have broadband. But as community leaders, you know firsthand that when you ask that proud senior on a fixed income whether she wants to sign up for broadband, her dignity will never allow her to admit that she cannot afford it. She will tell you that she does not need it, but we know that is just not true.

Pew Research Center just reported that African Americans have adopted broadband faster than any other group over the past 15 years. But they also reported that of the majority of those without broadband have household incomes lower than $30,000 a year. So we are committed to ensuring that cost is no longer a barrier to broadband adoption, but this will only happen through partnerships with industry, the government, and you.