The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society launched four new research projects to examine a variety of barriers to building and using broadband. Since the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, states have been working to achieve universal internet access through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and the Digital Equity Act (DEA) programs. Benton is supporting researchers who are investigating the complex challenges that stand in the way of universal, affordable, and equitable broadband access.

Dr. Revati Prasad, Vice President of Programs and incoming Executive Director at Benton, explained the impetus for the fellowships’ focus. 

“We celebrated the moment of investment in internet access through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but as the rubber hits the road, we want to be clear-eyed about what hurdles remain to delivering on the promises of BEAD and DEA programs. These fellows are asking essential questions about how climate risk, accountability mechanisms, and our institutions and policies can impact people’s ability to access and use the internet.  We are excited to support and share their work.”

Dr. Jesse Andrews, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will examine the relationship between inland flood risk and broadband access among households in vulnerable communities. Andrews will analyze objective performance and user perceptions of broadband infrastructure in vulnerable flood-prone communities in Nebraska. By integrating device measurements, survey responses, and spatial analysis of flood risk, Dr. Andrews will create a multidimensional dataset illuminating the relationship between broadband infrastructure, environmental hazards, and social vulnerability, contributing to more equitable and resilient broadband deployment strategies.“Broadband infrastructure is not immune to environmental pressures," Andrews said. “Understanding how flood risk impacts access and adoption is key to building resilient networks in the communities that need them most.”

Dr. Arpit Gupta of the University of California Santa Barbara and his team are addressing issues of broadband accountability through the Broadband Querying Tool (BQT), which extracts and analyzes data on broadband availability, speeds, affordability (ISP charges by speed tier), and adoption (active subscriptions) at the street-address level. The team’s previous audit of the Federal Communications Commission’s Connect America Fund (CAF) uncovered significant discrepancies. The analysis revealed a serviceability rate of only 55%, indicating that a substantial portion of addresses certified as served remained unserved. Additionally, the team found a compliance rate of just 33%, meaning a large share of served addresses received download speeds below the FCC’s mandated 10 Mbps threshold for CAF-supported locations.

As part of his Benton Fellowship, Dr. Gupta will expand the use of BQT to examine the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s BEAD and Middle-Mile Grant programs, starting with an analysis of California’s implementation. 

“Data transparency is the foundation of digital equity,” said Gupta. “With BQT, we’re giving communities, regulators, and researchers the tools to verify broadband claims and ensure that funds are going where they’re needed most.”

Community anchor institutions (CAIs)—such as public libraries, schools, and nonprofits—are essential to digital equity. But how prepared are they to lead efforts in expanding digital connectivity and competency for their community members? Dr. Yeweon Kim from the University of Maryland will focus on CAIs across Maryland, assessing their potential and challenges as key players in advancing digital inclusion. Dr. Kim will also examine community members’ needs for and experiences with digital support provided by CAIs, aiming to offer practical suggestions on policies and strategies that can help CAIs succeed as trusted tech allies for digitally marginalized individuals.

“CAIs are often the first—and sometimes the only—line of support for those struggling with broadband access and digital literacy support,” said Kim. “We need to understand both their strengths and structural barriers if we want sustainable, community-driven solutions.”

Sara Raza from the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School will explore how policy and legal frameworks help—or hinder—efforts to close the broadband health gap, especially in rural areas. Through a series of issue briefs and policy analyses, Raza will examine broadband as a super social determinant of health, analyze funding streams for healthcare delivery via broadband, and explore the legal and policy barriers that prevent healthcare providers and insurers from expanding access to digital care. In particular, she will analyze how evolving healthcare policies, such as telehealth reimbursement, payment parity, and hospital-at-home policies, impact the use of broadband for delivering healthcare services. 

“We can’t achieve good health outcomes for all without access to broadband for all,” said Raza. “This fellowship will help spotlight where policy reform is needed most to ensure digital health is sustainable and inclusive.”

These fellowships will provide actionable insights to help state and federal policymakers ensure people’s access to resilient, high-quality broadband infrastructure and improve their ability to use broadband service to advance their lives and the goals of their communities. 

Follow the Benton Institute’s website for updates on the fellows’ work throughout 2025, and stay tuned for the next application round for the Barriers to Broadband Fellowship later this year.

Contact:

Revati Prasad
Vice President of Programs
revati@benton.org
847-220-4531

 

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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