Both unintentionally and by design, we have reinforced a digital caste system that continues to divide communities into the “haves” and “have-nots.” What still remains unclear is not whether we can reverse engineer the disparate impact, but whether we, as a nation, believe that every resident in every community deserves equal access to a digital society. We need a plan, the kind that reaches every corner of the US. We need a nationwide strategy for broadband access that recognizes the importance of high-performance digital infrastructure and supports widespread adoption. Above all, this needs to be a priority for every level of government, working together to encourage interagency participation and public-private partnerships that fuel innovation. Otherwise, we will continue to miss out on the productivity and imagination of the millions struggling with access.

[Francella Ochillo is the Executive Director of Next Century Cities]

Players large and small are now building specially designed private 5G networks. In contrast with the 5G networks celebrated during the launch of the latest iPhone, these are intended as much for machines as people. Private networks are geographically constrained areas of coverage, intended to keep a local set of sensors, machines and computers in sync, and allow communications with the rest of the world as needed. Utility companies, retailers and other large enterprises have in the past made use of private 4G cellular networks. These can be more customizable than a carrier’s existing network, and offer better reliability and security than Wi-Fi, especially over large areas. With 5G, it’s suddenly possible for many companies—even rural broadband providers—to bypass the traditional network gatekeepers and create their own 5G wireless networks, with more bandwidth than ever.