Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Research

Author:

John Horrigan

Brian Whitacre

Hernan Galperin

Send date:

Tue, 05/02/2023

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 5/1/2023

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 05/02/2023

Coverage Type:

Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion

Digital Divide

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Broadband Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Gov performance

Internet/Broadband

Data & Mapping

Adoption

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Legislation

Level of Government

Federal

Marginalized Populations

Low-income

https://www.benton.org/blog/its-no-time-disarm-war-against-digital-divide

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

It’s No Time to Disarm in the War Against the Digital Divide

benton — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 12:43:15 +0000

The pandemic spurred policymakers and community leaders around the country to create programs to connect those without home broadband service or computers. These programs have had an impact. New government data show sharp increases in broadband and computer adoption in the 2019-to-2021 time frame. Initiatives such as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) have helped address “subscription vulnerability” for low-income households. With progress evident, it is time to extend and build on the ACP and local affordability programs. Recently released data from the American Community Survey shows wireline broadband adoption grew by 4.7 points between 2019 and 2021, more than twice the 2.0 points of growth between 2017 and 2019. This suggests that pandemic-driven initiatives to address home adoption gaps have had an impact. (Read more in Broadband Benefit Programs are Helping to Close the Digital Divide.)

[John B. Horrigan is a Benton Senior Fellow. He is a national expert on technology adoption, digital inclusion, and evaluating the outcomes and impacts of programs designed to promote communications technology adoption and use.]

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

Broadband Benefit Programs are Helping to Close the Digital Divide.

Source:

Author:

John Horrigan

Send date:

Tue, 11/29/2022

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 11/28/2022

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 11/29/2022

Coverage Type:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5aa8af1fc3c16a54bcbb0415/t/61ad7722de5626…

Affordability and the Digital Divide

benton — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 16:09:15 +0000

Understanding affordability of internet service and its role in adoption are crucial for developing solutions to close the digital divide.The goals of this study were first to understand the barriers to connectivity and efficacy of low-cost internet service options; and second, to use the findings to inform digital inclusion policies, advocacy efforts, and other initiatives that aim to drive digital equity. The findings were informed by a national survey on broadband adoption among low- and lower-middle income households.

7 million households whose annual incomes are $50,000 or less have home high-speed service due to free or discount offers;
40% said they cannot afford to pay anything for a home internet high-speed service subscription;
46% said it is "very" or "somewhat” difficult to build their monthly internet bill into their budget;
62% would require significant cost relief (relative to market prices) to have broadband service at home;
25% said they heard of free or discount internet offers and 23% heard of the Emergency Broadband Benefit;
28% of those who heard of either discount program (in above bullet) found it difficult to sign up; and
37% of households said they could not afford any more than $100 for a computer.

[This survey was funded by the Ballmer Group and Microsoft. John Horrigan is a Benton Senior Fellow.]

Benton Content:

Teaser:

A National Survey of Low- and Lower-Middle Income Households

Source:

EveryoneOn

Author:

John Horrigan

Send date:

Wed, 12/08/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 12/7/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 12/07/2021

Coverage Type:

https://www.benton.org/publications/project-overcome

Project OVERCOME: Innovative Connectivity Solutions in Seven Communities

Grace Tepper — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 11:26:39 +0000

Managed by US Ignite and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with Schmidt Futures, Project OVERCOME is a unique program that creates an innovative environment for seven communities to test locally accelerated and innovative solutions designed to deliver community internet connectivity within just 12 months. In March 2021, US Ignite announced the names of the seven communities chosen to deploy connectivity solutions in their communities. The selected communities reflect a mix of density, demographics, income levels, regions of the United States, housing types, local and industry collaborations, and technical approaches. US Ignite is overseeing deployment efforts, promoting outreach, and working with social scientists to measure the societal impacts of Project OVERCOME on access to health care, education, employment, and skills development. US Ignite is also documenting the challenges and lessons learned from the project in an effort to inform national broadband strategy and inspire other communities to adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to bridging the digital divide. This report features the seven Project OVERCOME communities and shines a light on the innovative solutions these communities are deploying in pursuit of digital equity.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

Teaser:

This report features the seven Project OVERCOME communities and shines a light on the innovative solutions these communities are deploying in pursuit of digital equity.

Source:

Send date:

Mon, 11/01/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 10/29/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Mon, 11/01/2021

Coverage Type:

https://www.shlb.org/policy/research/USForward

Headlines Specific Topic:

Benton Foundation

USForward: FCC Must Reform USF Contributions Now - An Analysis of the Options

benton — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:14:19 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund) has been one of the nation’s most important tools for connecting our nation, including rural communities, low-income families, schools, libraries, and rural health care facilities. However, the funding mechanism that supports the Fund is under significant duress. The “contribution base” – the revenues used to calculate USF contributions – has declined 63% in the last two decades, from $79.9 billion in 2001 to $29.6 billion in 2021. Meanwhile, the “contribution factor” – which is the USF fee assessed on interstate and international telecommunications service and certain telecommunications revenues – has increased from 6.9% in 2001 to a historic high of 33.4% in the second quarter of 2021. Assuming a continuation of historical trends, the contribution factor could approach 40% or more in the coming years. This situation is unsustainable and jeopardizes the universal broadband connectivity mission for our nation without immediate FCC reform. To ensure the enduring value of the USF program and America’s connectivity goals, we must have a smart and substantive conversation about the program’s future. At the request of INCOMPAS, NTCA – the Rural Broadband Association, and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, this report analyzes several options for FCC reform of the current status quo that have been pending in FCC rulemakings dating back to the early 2000’s: (1) modifying the current revenues-based contribution methodology to assess broadband internet access service revenues, (2) assessing connections, or (3) assessing telephone numbers. Reforming the current revenues-based system to include broadband internet access service revenues is the preferred approach, both as a matter of policy and ease of implementation. Doing so would reduce the contribution factor to less than 4%.

First, it is appropriate as a matter of public policy to assess broadband internet access service revenues because all four programs in the USF promote universal broadband. The revenues from broadband internet access services that are increasingly used by Americans today should contribute to the USF programs that support the expansion of such services to all. This will better reflect the value of broadband internet access service in today’s marketplace for both consumers and businesses.
Second, broadband internet access service revenues are expected to be stable in the future, with the potential for some modest growth. This would stabilize the funding mechanism and stop the death spiral in the current USF contribution methodology.
Third, it is a solution that can be implemented more quickly than the alternatives. It would be far less uncertain than seeking congressional intervention and can be done by the FCC pursuant to its current statutory mandate. FCC reform of the USF contribution mechanism now is an important first step in stabilizing the current system.
Fourth, there is a significant advantage to retaining the current revenues-based system because most of the revenues reported to the FCC for USF purposes come from publicly traded companies that are audited and subject to stringent financial reporting standards for their revenues. This external financial scrutiny would provide an additional level of assurance that the metric used to assess USF contributions is accurately reported.
Fifth, assessing both broadband internet access service and voice services removes the incentives of providers to arbitrarily allocate revenues from bundled services to one service and not the other. This creates an inequitable situation where some end users continue to pay into USF, while others do not, yet everyone benefits from the positive network externalities of universal connectivity made possible from the four USF programs that support broadband-capable networks and service.

Benton Content:

Teaser:

New research from the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, INCOMPAS, and NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association

Source:

Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition

Author:

Carol Mattey

Send date:

Wed, 09/15/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/14/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Tue, 09/14/2021

Coverage Type:

Community Anchor Institutions

Healthcare Facilities

Infrastructure

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

Universal Service Fund

Rural Health Care

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

E-rate/Schools and Libraries Program

5G Fund for Rural America

The Internet and the Pandemic

benton — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:36:06 +0000

Results from a new survey of US adults reveal the extent to which people’s use of the internet has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, their views about how helpful technology has been for them and the struggles some have faced. The vast majority of adults (90%) say the internet has been at least important to them personally during the pandemic, the survey finds. The share who say it has been essential – 58% – is up slightly from 53% in April 2020. There have also been upticks in the shares who say the internet has been essential in the past year among those with a bachelor’s degree or more formal education, adults under 30, and those 65 and older. A large majority of Americans (81%) also say they talked with others via video calls at some point since the pandemic’s onset. And for 40% of Americans, digital tools have taken on new relevance: They report they used technology or the internet in ways that were new or different to them. Some also sought upgrades to their service as the pandemic unfolded: 29% of broadband users did something to improve the speed, reliability or quality of their high-speed internet connection at home since the beginning of the outbreak. Still, tech use has not been an unmitigated boon for everyone. “Zoom fatigue” was widely speculated to be a problem in the pandemic, and some Americans report related experiences in the new survey: 40% of those who have ever talked with others via video calls since the beginning of the pandemic say they have felt worn out or fatigued often or sometimes by the time they spend on them. Moreover, changes in screen time occurred for Americans generally and for parents of young children. The survey finds that a third of all adults say they tried to cut back on time spent on their smartphone or the internet at some point during the pandemic. In addition, 72% of parents of children in grades K-12 say their kids are spending more time on screens compared with before the outbreak.

The digital divides related to internet use and affordability were highlighted by the pandemic and also emerged in new ways as life moved online. For all Americans relying on screens during the pandemic, connection quality has been important for school assignments, meetings and virtual social encounters alike. The new survey highlights difficulties for some: Roughly half of those who have a high-speed internet connection at home (48%) say they have problems with the speed, reliability or quality of their home connection often or sometimes.
Affordability remained a persistent concern for a portion of digital tech users as the pandemic continued – about a quarter of home broadband users (26%) and smartphone owners (24%) said in the April 2021 survey that they worried a lot or some about paying their internet and cellphone bills over the next few months. From parents of children facing the “homework gap” to Americans struggling to afford home internet, those with lower incomes have been particularly likely to struggle. At the same time, some of those with higher incomes have been affected as well.
Affordability and connection problems have hit broadband users with lower incomes especially hard. Nearly half of broadband users with lower incomes, and about a quarter of those with midrange incomes, say that as of April they were at least somewhat worried about paying their internet bill over the next few months.³ And home broadband users with lower incomes are roughly 20 points more likely to say they often or sometimes experience problems with their connection than those with relatively high incomes. Still, 55% of those with lower incomes say the internet has been essential to them personally in the pandemic.

Benton Content:

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/09/01/the-internet-and-the-pandemic/

Teaser:

90% of Americans say the internet has been essential or important to them

Source:

Author:

Send date:

Thu, 09/02/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 9/1/2021

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Wed, 09/01/2021

Coverage Type:

Coronavirus and Connectivity

Headlines Specific Topic:

Lifeline Program 2020 Program Evaluation

benton — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 18:55:10 +0000

The key findings of this report reflect the need to establish a clearer connection between Federal Communications Commission policy and how Universal Service Administrative Company operationalizes this policy through an FCC-directed Lifeline program strategic plan. Currently no such document exists. This prescriptive document will significantly contribute to the resolution of many of the findings. Broadly, findings, observations, and recommendations span two main categories:

Program Design – considerations for FCC based on its role to establish the vision and guiding policies for the design of the Lifeline program; and

Program Operations – considerations for USAC based on its processes and procedures to administer the Lifeline program according to FCC guidance and policies.

Performance criteria and metrics for the delivery of the Lifeline program’s objectives do not currently exist and needs to be designed in such a way that clearly links FCC’s intended policy outcomes to expectations of USAC in delivering those outcomes. In terms of program design, FCC’s establishment of agreed upon program performance metrics across Availability, Affordability, Burden and Cost Effectiveness is essential to clearly articulate the service delivery expectations of USAC. Across program operations, USAC will use these performance criteria and metrics to distribute resources to most effectively and efficiently deliver the services under the Lifeline program.

Benton Content:

https://www.neca.org/docs/default-source/wwpdf/public/7121usac.pdf

Teaser:

The FCC should implement approaches to collect and analyze data to help determine program outcomes and drive program design changes

Source:

Universal Service Administrative Company

Author:

Shiva Verma

Send date:

Sat, 07/03/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 7/2/2021

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

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Publish Date:

Fri, 07/02/2021

Coverage Type:

Lifeline/Low-Income Consumers

Gov performance

Universal Service Fund

Chicago Connected: A Year in Review

benton — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 12:02:16 +0000

Launched in June 2020, the Chicago Connected program provided a bridge to learning for more than 64,000 Chicago Public Schools students who didn’t have the connectivity or speed to access their remote lessons from home. An inspiring commitment on the part of Chicago’s philanthropy, business, government and nonprofit sectors, Chicago Connected has been replicated in cities across the country and is the national model for bridging the urban digital divide. One year after its launch, we revisit how the program was created, how it serves families’ needs, where improvements can be made, and how it can be further replicated nationwide.

The creation of Chicago Connected, the longest-term, most comprehensive connectivity program in the nation, is truly groundbreaking. Chicago Connected is eliminating broadband accessibility as a barrier to digital learning—and providing a roadmap for other cities and school districts to follow. From its initial launch and throughout implementation, Chicago Connected partners have embraced an “open source” approach, sharing lessons learned along the way. More than 20 cities have reached out to Kids First Chicago and its public-private partners to learn more about the program’s creation and model. Philadelphia and Miami have both launched initiatives modeled after Chicago Connected in design and structure.

Benton Content:

https://kidsfirstchicago.org/chicago-connected-year-review

Teaser:

Ultimately, Kids First Chicago envisions a future where lack of access to the internet is no longer a barrier to student success

Source:

Kids First Chicago

Send date:

Thu, 07/01/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 6/30/2021

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Not Available

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Publish Date:

Thu, 07/01/2021

Coverage Type:

Community Anchor Institutions

Coronavirus and Connectivity

Headlines Specific Topic:

Counties: The Missing Pieces in the Broadband Puzzle

Grace Tepper — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 19:25:27 +0000

At least in the state of Virginia, counties are rural, yet they have been left out of the design of broadband deployment and the conversation around rural broadband. Nevertheless, they are a crucial part of the local broadband story, and their support can go a long way in bridging the digital divide. In this article, we offer preliminary analysis of a question about broadband deployment. We launched the Virginia County Broadband Survey to better understand what counties across the Commonwealth of Virginia are doing to close the digital divide in their communities, and how broadband factors into their policy plans for the year. The inspiration for this research is found in the ongoing recognition by policymakers and researchers about the role of states and communities in broadband planning, funding, and deployment. As the interface between states and municipalities, we hypothesize that counties play, and will continue to play, an increasingly crucial role in broadband deployment. We asked counties to self-report broadband coverage levels at 25/3 Mbps, 50/10 Mbps, and 100/20 Mbps (respectively). The results were troubling, if unsurprising: massive inconsistencies between self-reported broadband deployment and the data provided by the Federal Communications Commissions.

There are three major takeaways from this early analysis of data from the Virginia County Broadband Survey:

While states and municipalities have been highlighting as key stakeholders in broadband planning and deployment, the role of counties has, until now, been underappreciated by policymakers and broadband researchers.
The FCC’s data continue to fail in terms of delivering a trustworthy and accurate representation of broadband deployment in the United States.
County officials know their communities – we need to trust them and bring them to the table when discussing broadband deployment plans at both the state and local levels.

Benton Content:

Benton Original Content

https://www.benton.org/blog/counties-missing-pieces-broadband-puzzle

Teaser:

The Virginia County Broadband Survey shows that counties are a crucial part of the local broadband story and can help bridge the digital divide.

Source: