Will The Government's New Broadband Subsidies Close The Digital Divide For Older Americans?

On May 12, the Federal Communications Commission will launch the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which will have internet service providers give low-income Americans who qualify up to $50 off per month for broadband service. Advocates for older adults say the government's new broadband subsidies are a good step towards closing the digital divide — but that much more will need to be done to get them on the internet. One problem is that the subsidy money could run out within a year, at which point broadband pricing could go right back up, says Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. But a bigger issue, Siefer says, is that many older Americans lack basic internet skills and that some have security concerns keeping them offline altogether. "Digital literacy is a really huge issue," Siefer says. Vivian Nava-Schellinger, director of national and community partnerships and network activation at the National Council on Aging, says: "It's not just about giving seniors broadband access. It's also about giving them the information they need to engage safely online."