Big Tech could be the answer to broadband affordability

The digital divide cut deeper during the pandemic, as doors closed and services, classrooms, and jobs moved online. For most Americans, much of life went virtual, but for the tens of millions of people who live where broadband service is not offered, much of it disappeared. No school, no work, no social activities. The struggle of disconnected Americans was cast into sharp relief during the pandemic, giving rise to a broad consensus that at long last the digital divide must be closed. Bipartisan support for taking the necessary steps to reach universal broadband coalesced during 2020, and Hill Republicans and the White House recently settled on a $65 billion target for federal assistance to bring broadband connections to those who live beyond the reach of any internet access service.