High-speed internet is no longer a luxury. Too many Americans still don’t have it

For most of human history, our basic needs—food, water, shelter, and work—have stayed largely the same. But in today’s connected, digital world, one more essential has joined that list: access to high-speed internet. It may surprise many that 6.8 million U.S. households do not have reliable internet access in 2025, with a disproportionate 3.1 million of those households located in the heartland. In 2021, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program was approved in Congress to officially help close the digital divide, connect households to high-speed internet, and help communities build necessary digital skills. As states look to move this program from concept to completion, there are three primary objectives that should be met. The first is to help ensure all under-connected Americans get access to high-speed internet as quickly as possible. The second is to ensure that the high-speed internet access provided to communities is sustainable long-term. The third priority is ensuring that all Americans have the digital tools and skills necessary to accelerate economic growth across the country.

[Angie Cooper is the president and chief operating officer of Heartland Forward, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to being a resource for states and local communities in the middle of the country.]