The Digital Divide in Rural America Can Begin to Mend With Broadband Accessibility

The Digital Divide in Rural America Can Begin to Mend With Broadband Accessibility

In the US, rural communities, underserved populations, and tribal nations collectively do not have quality access to broadband internet. Individuals in these communities live in digital deserts that, by definition, have low-quality internet or no access to rural broadband at astonishing levels. 

It is estimated that 21.3 million Americans do not have access to high-speed internet according to the FCC. A recent study conducted by BroadBandNow indicates that the number may be double that estimate, with 42 million Americans lacking internet access.

In recent years, some ISPs, municipalities, and legislation have made efforts to bridge the broadband gap. But the progress to make high-speed internet available in rural and underserved areas has been slow-going. Lack of funding, low population density, rural terrain, lower broadband adoption, and technology limitations are culprits.

In early 2020, the cascading effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have shed a blinding light on the dire situation. The global epidemic has shown that the basic needs and the very livelihood of individuals is at greater risk in rural regions and underserved communities that lack internet access. 

From limited access to healthcare, quality education, community resources, and economic growth, these communities cannot thrive in today’s modern society without high-speed internet access.

When the pandemic hit, practically overnight, countless workplaces shifted online to remote work. The majority of these employers had no strategies to accommodate their telecommuting staff in digital desserts. Businesses and organizations scrambled to keep operations functioning normally, while their rural employees with low-quality or no high-speed internet access became cut off from work.

The digital disparity in the education system increased with the pandemic. As schools shifted to remote-learning or a hybrid-learning model, rural and underserved students without access to high-quality internet were left with no alternatives. Rural school districts nationwide are now grappling with the unforeseen future of digital education.

Technology community centers, libraries, and telecentres that once offered on-site computers and internet access, either closed or limited visitors. Individuals that relied on those technology resources to complete homework, access information, and complete online activities had no other options.

As doctor offices and mental health professionals encouraged patients to use telehealth, many rural communities did not have that choice. 

CARES Act Awarded Millions of Dollars For Rural Broadband Development

In light of the pandemic, lawmakers across party lines received an abrupt wake-up call about the broadband disparity in the country. In the spring of 2020, The Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program, under the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act), awarded millions of dollars in grants and loans to eligible rural communities. 

According to the program’s website, the ReConnect Program awards “loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.”

Electrical Cooperatives Expand to Provide Rural Broadband Services

Electric cooperatives are stepping up to help mend the digital divide across US rural regions and underserved communities. Historically, they demonstrated leadership in society when they orchestrated bringing electricity to rural communities.  

A National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) report estimated that 6.3 million electric co-op households that include 13.4 million people did not have access to high-speed broadband service.

With the foresight of electric COOPs, that’s about to change. 

“Now, nearly 100 electric co-ops are reinvesting in rural America by bringing high speed internet access to rural homes, businesses and schools,” according to NRECA.

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), a member-owned electric distribution cooperative founded in 1939, is doing just that. In the 1930s, they brought electricity to their rural New Hampshire members. Today, they are working hard to bring high-speed internet to their members, starting with the creation of a broadband subsidiary.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and our members’ requests for help have made clear that access to high-speed internet is nearly as important today to rural New Hampshire as electricity was in 1939,” NHEC stated in a press release, who believes broadband will be the next essential service.

NHEC is working with TD Madison who specializes in working with broadband, electric cooperatives, municipalities, cable, and consortium organizations. They are helping NHEC  identify a unique leader to spearhead the creation of their new broadband subsidiary. The subsidiary will be charged with securing federal, state, and local funding opportunities, and developing strategic partnerships.

Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to Help Mend the Digital Divide in Rural America 

Following up from the CARES Act, in October 2020, The FCC approved $20.4 billion in grants through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) to be distributed over 10 years. The funds will be awarded via an auction of qualified bidders. RDOF qualified bidders included electric cooperatives, telephone companies, telecom organizations, cable companies, and consortiums. 

“With today’s announcement, we are taking one of the last steps before ringing the opening bell for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, our biggest and boldest step yet to bridge the digital divide for over 10 million unserved consumers across rural America,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.