Investing in Digital Equity: The Case for Broadband Expansion

by Jed Pressgrove / October 23, 2019 Source: govtech

With society rapidly digitizing and high-speed Internet access fast-becoming a vital utility, government must work to balance the needs of underserved populations with financial realities.

Some public and private stakeholders argue that financial matters such as return on investment (ROI) must be heavily considered when expanding broadband to unserved populations. But does digital equity, the idea that everyone should have access to the technology our society increasingly depends upon, reduce the importance of these financial aspects?   

Industry analyst Craig Settles, who has conducted needs assessments for communities interested in broadband since 2006, said a lack of a guaranteed ROI should not stop broadband expansion. One must figure out how to pay for the people who can’t pay, as well as think beyond the basic necessity of reliable broadband infrastructure.

“There has to be an understanding that after I have built the network … then comes all of the other pushes for equity,” Settles said. “And that concept, whether it is a statewide policy or it’s in pockets within a particular state, there has to be a push for the full digital equity package.”

Settles gave several examples of equity issues: children who lack the right devices at home for learning; teachers who need digital training so that they can prepare students for the future; and an aging baby boomer population that may not have the equipment or skills to understand, much less take advantage of, telehealth.

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