States and NGOs must bridge senior broadband gap: AARP

The end of the Affordability Connectivity Program and changes to the Digital Equity Act have made broadband bills a burden for needy families, and new solutions are needed. That’s according to a new report from Older Adults Technology Services organization within the American Association of Retired Persons, published February 26. Nearly a third of older Americans (32 percent) lacked fully wired broadband access at home, according to 2023 data, the AARP report pointed out, amounting to more than 19 million people. That figure was an improvement from 2018, when 22 million seniors lacked wireline broadband access. The AARP study didn’t count 5G home internet or 5G mobile plans as broadband access, saying 5G services can be inconsistent and may impose data caps or surprise slowdowns. That can be a big problem for “aging-in-place systems such as medical alerts, in-home monitoring devices, and smart-home technology for accessibility.” “There is little doubt that 5G will eventually provide equivalent capabilities, but for the time being, it does not integrate as smoothly with this infrastructure,” researchers said.