Understanding Barriers to Broadband Adoption Can Help Cities in Their Broadband Planning

The digital divide has continued to grow as new broadband technologies, devices, and applications have evolved with unrelenting speed. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the digital disparity in low-income urban regions and rural communities has been thrust into the spotlight.

To unravel the challenges that the digital divide brings it is important to break down all of the data points that contribute to 42 million Americans lacking internet access today. In recent times the focus on mending digital disparity was on broadband availability and infrastructure. However, it’s becoming more apparent that there are other contributors exacerbating the digital divide.

At the core, the two main barriers are broadband availability and broadband adoption. They work hand-in-hand, but more like a game of tug-of-war rather than a handshake. Municipalities, rural communities, the FCC, internet service providers, and local broadband planning organizations must not only address the infrastructure challenges but must dissect all barriers to broadband adoption.

Data-driven decisions that address the causes that stymie broadband adoption will make a greater impact on closing the digital divide gap. Data will also better inform broadband funding objectives from the FCC such as the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) that will distribute $3.2 billion in subsidies.

Unfortunately, not much data is available on past and current broadband subsidy successes or failures. Currently, it is recommended that EBBP’s objectives are more clearly defined on how funding should be prioritized and distributed. A comprehensive data collection system would shed light on factors that successfully increased the adoption of broadband. For example, data analysis that measures and evaluates broadband subsidies is needed to better understand the impact of bringing broadband to households that do not have high-speed internet versus providing upgrades to those who have outdated broadband services. Finally, increasing the number of states that collect and report data to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the National Broadband Availability map is essential. Currently, only 22 states are contributing data to the map.

There’s no doubt that the digital divide is a multifaceted problem that must address the short-term challenges and long-term challenges of broadband disparity. Not only should legislators and communities address the immediate roadblocks that stand in the way of equitable access to broadband, but they must be aware of the next iteration of broadband technology on the horizon. Broadband advocates are challenged with solving the immediate needs of today and developing plans to respond with agility to technologies such as 5G. Broadband leaders must consider not only plans for providing or upgrading broadband service, but also explore the need for new 5G devices. It is possible that 5G broadband availability alone won’t assure widespread adoption, as research shows that lower-income households historically have shown a lower rate of device adoption.

Broadband organizations need meaningful data that uncovers successes and failures in mending the digital divide. It has been shown that although high-speed internet may be available, broadband adoption does necessarily not follow suit. Digital literacy, relevancy, among other barriers must be addressed. This approach empowers broadband planners to develop data-based broadband strategies with defined outcomes. What’s more, is that it allows funding entities and broadband partners to strategically maximize the impact of their dollars through clearly defined objectives.

fiber broadbandbroadband technology image