We must act urgently to make internet for all a reality

With virtually unlimited bandwidth, fiber optic connectivity is the fastest, most reliable, and most innovative solution for bridging the digital divide. Other options, like fixed wireless access, may be faster to deploy but require more upkeep, have limited capabilities, and require substantial new investment in a relatively short period. Fiber also requires less maintenance, is less expensive to operate, and is a more sustainable option. Many rural areas long-served by community-based providers have been fortunate to keep pace with the advances in broadband seen in more urban areas. And even as the digital divide may remain stark in many other rural communities, progress is now being made in these places as well. Service providers and suppliers are coming together to connect the unconnected by investing in innovation and ramping up production, but the private sector cannot do it alone. We need more trained technicians so we can keep up with the growing demand, and we need lawmakers — from city hall to Capitol Hill — to match the speed and scale required to solve this critical issue. We request state broadband offices quickly publish their five-year action plans and digital equity plans so the industry can ensure the resources being deployed match the unique needs of the regions they serve.  

[Shirley Bloomfield is CEO of The Rural Broadband Association and Gary Bolton is president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association.]