The pandemic has exposed the holes in America’s internet

We have a connection problem. Statistics from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) show that around 18 million people in the U.S. do not have high-speed broadband options from any provider, but those numbers are based on metrics that policymakers widely agree need fixing. The FCC itself reports that less than two-thirds of the U.S. population has adopted high-speed broadband (defined as speeds of 25 Mbps download/ 3 Mbps upload). Other studies place the number of people without broadband access at 42 million, or even as high as 162 million. What’s keeping people from connecting? In many cases, it’s cost. The issue also extends to race. The crisis is a function of a broken broadband market, a federal agency that has abdicated its authority over internet access, and a lack of comprehensive data about who has access to the internet and at what cost.

So, what happens next? People need connectivity now, and as COVID-19 cases tick back upward this summer and schools remain at least partially online in the fall, the urgency for affordable home access will only increase. But going forward, even more must be done. We must build toward a vision of internet access that is inclusive, reflects a commitment to racial justice, and is driven by community needs rather than corporate bottom lines. We also need a federal agency that is empowered to support these efforts. Current FCC leadership has hamstrung the agency’s ability to protect consumers and improve internet affordability. As the expert agency for communications and consumer protection in the communications sector, this approach has resulted in an enormous regulatory gap. Fortunately, the FCC has the ability to reassert leadership in this space, leverage the public consensus that internet access is a necessity, and take concrete steps to improve the internet service market and ensure quality, affordable options for everyone. Connecting the country to reliable high-speed internet is a big task, and there is not a moment to lose.

[Sarah Morris is the Director of the Open Technology Institute at New America]