What's New in Broadband Research?

Last month, digital divide researchers convened at two major events: the Digital Access Research Forum and the Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (better known as TPRC). The first event, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City—in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, New York, and Philadelphia—brought together researchers, practitioners, funders, and policymakers to share and discuss research about broadband and digital access.¹ The second event, a longstanding conference that addresses telecommunications policy, drew social and computer scientists, legal scholars, and telecommunications industry representatives, among others. The events showcased new research and fostered discussion about the how, what, and why behind getting all Americans online. Over the course of these two conferences, we were impressed by the array of presentations about broadband policy and lived dimensions of digital equity—from assessing the effectiveness of multibillion-dollar federal broadband programs to understanding affordability and skills. Together, the presentations and discussions reflected a research community responding to an evolving policy landscape, especially in light of recent changes to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the uncertain future of other federal initiatives like the Digital Equity Act programs. The conversations underscored a shared urgency: to ensure that research keeps pace with policy, that evidence translates into action, and that the nation’s broadband investments lead to meaningful, measurable improvements in people’s lives.