Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - LAist

California Is Spending Billions On ‘Broadband For All,’ But Critics Say It Will Not Lower Internet Prices

zwalker@benton.org — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 20:58:06 +0000

Californians spend an average of $84 per month to connect to the internet—and some of the most vulnerable groups, including older adults, veterans and people with disabilities, tend to pay even more. So the state is spending billions of dollars to make broadband more affordable and available under its Broadband for All plan. It’s creating a new public backbone network called the “middle-mile” across 10,000 miles of California, and offering funding for companies to build the "last mile," the final leg of the network that brings service to your home. The idea is that increased competition will force the large internet companies to drop their rates. But LAist has found that large internet providers are also applying for those billions of dollars of government funding, hoping to use it to expand their service territory into underserved areas. However, they largely do not plan to connect to the state’s public network. Instead, companies want to use their own already-built middle mile infrastructure, which gives them control over prices. Without that element of competition, some say internet bills would likely stay the same or even increase.

Benton Content:

https://laist.com/news/california-broadband-affordability-plan-applications

Teaser:

California is spending billions of taxpayer dollars on a plan to make broadband more affordable and available—will it be enough?

Source:

LAist

Author:

Nereida Moreno

Send date:

Wed, 04/24/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/23/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Tue, 04/23/2024

Coverage Type:

Marginalized Populations

Individuals who are Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group

Individuals who primarily Reside in a Rural Area

Low-income

Seniors/Aging Individuals

‘The Internet Is Everything'. What It’s Like To Parent When You Don’t Have Basic Computer Skills

zwalker@benton.org — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:22:52 +0000

Up until last year, Nancy Navarro didn’t know how to check her kids’ grades or schedule online appointments. She had Wi-Fi at home so her 15 and 11-year-old kids could do their homework on their school-issued laptops, but she wasn’t online herself very often. But then she noticed that her kids’ school was offering free digital training classes through the local nonprofit EveryoneOn, which aims to connect as many underserved people as possible on the internet. Navarro took the class and learned how to identify spam, use Google docs and other basic computer tasks. She was also given a free Chromebook from the organization, which will allow her to keep practicing at home. Navarro's experience is reflected in a new pilot study conducted by EveryOne CEO Norma Fernandez. The research explores what’s motivating underserved Latina and Black women in L.A., along with women from Milwaukee and the Bay Area, to pursue digital skills training, and details some of the challenges they face along the way. It was published by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. Fernandez says very little is known about the intimate experiences of women, and specially women of color, who don’t have access to the internet or personal devices. “I really wanted to glean a more layered understanding of the digital divide from their perspective,” Fernandez said. “They’re the folks who are sitting at the center of the [the issue] and therefore experts on how to solve it,” she said.

Benton Content:

https://laist.com/news/the-internet-is-everything-what-its-like-to-parent-when-y…

Teaser:

EveryoneOn CEO Norma Fernandez wanted to learn more about women of color's experiences as part of the digital divide

Source:

LAist

Author:

Nereida Moreno

Send date:

Tue, 04/16/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/15/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 04/15/2024

Coverage Type:

Reporting

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Marginalized Populations

Individuals who are Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group

Individuals with a Language Barrier

Research

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

Los Angeles Cracks Down On 'Digital Discrimination' By Internet Service Providers

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:21:15 +0000

There will soon be a new way for Los Angeles residents to submit a complaint if they feel they've been discriminated against by internet companies. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to hold internet providers accountable for offering slower, costlier broadband in low-income communities. While there’s no “specific timeline,” Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson said the Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department will look at the city’s existing anti-discrimination laws and create a new policy for investigating complaints. It will also develop a public information program so that people know where to go for help, and create a process for forwarding claims to the Federal Communications Commission. The city will also be tasked with analyzing complaints, including demographic information, and will report annually on any potential trends. Advocates are celebrating the “historic action” and say it makes L.A. the first city in the nation to directly address digital discrimination.

Benton Content:

https://laist.com/news/los-angeles-cracks-down-on-digital-discrimination-by-inte…

Teaser:

Advocates are celebrating the “historic action” and say it makes L.A. the first city in the nation to directly address digital discrimination

Source:

LAist

Author:

Nereida Moreno

Send date:

Fri, 01/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 1/25/2024