How Many Americans Lack High-Speed Internet?

Not everyone in the US has internet access. There are more than 14 million people without any internet access and 25 million without the faster and more reliable broadband access, according to a 2018 Federal Communications Commission study. And that may actually be an undercount. The FCC data is based on census blocks and not households. The data may show that a broadband provider serves a particular census block, but not every household in that block may access that service. Microsoft has said its research shows that if broadband access was counted more precisely, the number of Americans without it would be closer to 163 million people.

Angela Siefer, the executive director at the National Digital Inclusion Alliance said the lack of internet may force people to go outside and ignore quarantine or shelter-in-place guidelines. “It’s a lot easier to stay home when you have internet,” Siefer said. “That’s how you survive, and [without internet access] you can’t do your homework, you can’t order food from the grocery stores. If you are not having your basic needs met, then you’re going to go out and take care of those.”