University of Southern California
How far is California from high-speed broadband Internet for all?
This study examines how far is California from the goal of making 100 Mbps broadband available to all as laid out by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2020. The study also discusses the broadband proposals (AB-14 and SB-4) currently before the California legislature. Among the key study findings are:
Who Gets Access to Fast Broadband in Los Angeles?
As consolidation in the US residential broadband market continues, there is concern that that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are “cherry-picking” areas for upgrades to fast broadband services. This policy brief examines this question for Los Angeles (LA) County during the 2014-17 period. In particular, it probes for evidence that ISPs are neglecting investments in low-income areas and communities of color.
Even In A “Good Year,” Film Diversity Stays Stable
The Media, Diversity, & Social Change Initiative at USC Annenberg released a study demonstrating that diversity on screen falls far below that of the US population.
The study found that individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups comprise just over a quarter (26%) of all speaking characters. Individuals from all underrepresented groups face a similar plight in animated films.
Across three years examined (2007, 2010, 2013), less than one-eighth of characters in big-screen films were from any underrepresented group. The high occurred in 2013 when 12.4% of characters were from diverse backgrounds, while in 2007, 8.1% of speaking characters were from underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups. 2010 was the worst year, when a mere 1.5% of characters reflected any racial and/or ethnic diversity.