Still no affordable fix for a broadband internet connection just out of reach

A few thousand feet can feel much farther when that distance separates a house from the closest wired broadband – and the cost to extend connectivity reaches tens of thousands of dollars. This isn’t a new problem: ”In both my [Federal Communications Commission] and post-FCC life, I’ve heard these stories both in real life and over social media numerous times,” said Gigi Sohn, an advocate for more equitable broadband access and, earlier, an adviser to former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler. But the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting push to work from home have made it worse. And while internet providers have temporarily lifted data caps and waived late-payment fees, no such organized help has reached could-be customers.