Limited broadband access hurts economic mobility in poorest states

Among the states that have fallen furthest behind on broadband access, a new Census Bureau report found that several also have some of the highest levels of poverty in the nation. Inequality and the lack of broadband access have become inherently intertwined in the US Without reliable high-speed internet access, it is more difficult to apply to the jobs and educational programs that can help people escape poverty. Similarly, those on limited incomes struggle to afford broadband access even where it's available. As technology evolves, Americans who remain in disconnected communities will lag even further behind and could be locked out of opportunities to improve education, economic status, and even health.

[Francella Ochillo is the executive director of Next Century Cities, a nonprofit that works to expand U.S. broadband access.]