I wanted to take a moment to reach out and introduce or reintroduce myself as I officially step into the role of Executive Director of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society. I started with Benton in May 2022 as the Director for Research, and, for the past year, I’ve served as the Vice President of Programs. So I’m new to this role, but not to Benton or our field. I am excited by this new challenge to lead an organization with Benton’s legacy and impact, and even more grateful to work alongside all of you.

This past week, I had the opportunity to speak with some incredibly smart and dedicated broadband advocates. My head is still spinning with new ideas about how to connect communities and individuals to all the information and services that the internet delivers so they can thrive in the modern world. What came across clearly to me was that our work—to be a reliable source of information, analysis, and research for you all—is seen and appreciated. 

Our work also remains urgent and necessary. Against the backdrop of political upheaval, it might be easy to lose sight of why or even if our work matters. We work to ensure all people have the means of communication, of connection. It is often forgotten, but that does not make it any less foundational. That is the story of infrastructure. Whether it’s bridges or broadband, where, when, and how you build it has implications. We work to make sure those implications serve the public interest.

Working with and learning from my colleagues at Benton these past few years has been an incredible gift. I have a special level of appreciation for Adrianne B. Furniss, our indefatigable leader for the past decade, who poured time and trust in our staff and in me. She built our team and laid a strong foundation. Now we work to build further and make her proud.

Speaking of Adrianne, our fellow “Broadband-for-All” advocates took a moment this week to acknowledge the immense contribution she has made to the field in the last decade (I even threatened to sing Wind Beneath My Wings, but then decided to spare them). Everyone at the Benton Institute is looking forward to June, when we’ll be together to celebrate her in full. 

One insight I’ve gleaned from observing Adrianne’s leadership, within Benton and beyond, is that no individual, no single organization, can take on all that is needed to ensure everyone in the U.S. can get online and use that connectivity for their full flourishing. That is why I’d love to sit down with you, dear reader, and hear how you understand the impact of connectivity and your role in ensuring the promise of the internet is realized by everyone.

With some nerves and all the excitement, I’m honored to work alongside you as we make sure the infrastructure of opportunity reaches and strengthens every community.

Dr. Revati Prasad is the new Executive Director of the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society.

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

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Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities