The U.S. Internet Is Being Starved of Its Potential: 2020 in Review

So long as our local, state, and federal governments do not prioritize delivering future-proofed infrastructure to all people, our ability to make full use of the 21st century Internet will be limited. What the Internet becomes in the mid-to-late 21st century will not be an American story, unless we aggressively course-correct our infrastructure policies soon. America doesn't need a "broadband plan"; it needs a fiber infrastructure plan. The thing that holds back the large national broadband providers is the resistance to making long term investments in infrastructure as opposed to short term profits. Localism in broadband and investments in fiber will be how we get 21st Century access to all people. We hope, given that broadband is as important as water and electricity today, that the Senate will move forward on a national broadband infrastructure package in 2021. The only reason the digital divide remains in 2020 is because too many in government willfully allowed it to continue.