Capital & Main

Millions of Californians Lack the High-Speed Internet Capacity Needed to Get a Job

When it comes to finding a job, a phone may be enough to fill out an application at McDonald’s or Home Depot if you have a reliable internet connection. But if a job application is more complicated, say, requiring a résumé or a CV, the process of applying by phone can range from exasperating to impossible, especially if your internet connection is sketchy.

California’s Plan to Close the Digital Divide Hits Industry Roadblocks

California has $6 billion in federal COVID relief funds with which to close the digital divide, but advocates argue that telecom industry proposals could sabotage the state’s high-stakes experiment in online democracy. In Sacramento (CA), companies are jockeying to be first in line for multimillion-dollar state grants to connect the unconnected, advocates say, and pressuring lawmakers to weaken provisions that would make broadband more affordable to low-income Californians.

LA County Seeks Bids to Bring High-Speed Internet to Poor Black and Latino Areas

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's $65 billion in broadband funding is fueling a nationwide rush by state and local