Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, and Amina Fazlullah, director of equity policy at Common Sense Media, describe what you need to know about the digital divide, its impact throughout the pandemic, and where we might go from here. 

The pandemic raised both the stakes and general understanding of the digital divide, Siefer and Fazlullah explain. With the bulk of day-to-day life moved online for so many people, the digital divide now extends far beyond its previous manifestations. While they've been glad to see local organizations implement stopgap solutions on the fly, they really want to see the federal government step up to the task. Outside of more local solutions, Fazlullah and Siefer note there's been very little support from the federal government, outside of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program.  If there's any silver lining, it's that knowledge of these issues – both for policymakers and everyday folks – won't go away after the pandemic subsides. The pandemic revealed just how many places the digital divide could pop up — be it access to work, school, healthcare, or more — and how detrimental it can be for those living in it, says Fazlullah. In Fazlullah's telling, broadband infrastructure needs to be deployed in a way "that's actually able to meet today's needs and able to be efficiently updated to meet tomorrow's needs as well," which will require the government to update and fund a modernized broadband infrastructure. Siefer has similar visions for a more digitally equitable US in the future. She wants to see federal funding for a permanent broadband benefit, as well as funding for the kind of digital literacy and tech support necessary for actually getting everyone full access to technology and the internet. 

The Federal Communications Commission proposes to add a new system of records, FCC/WCB–4, Consumer Challenge Process, to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. The Consumer Challenge Process system of records contains personally identifiable information (PII) submitted by individuals, or third parties on behalf of individuals, needed to establish eligibility to challenge the accuracy of Participants’ submissions, provide sufficient information for Participants to respond to a challenge, and create accurate maps of Participant coverage or eligible locations. To establish eligibility, prospective Stakeholders who are individuals must submit certain PII that will be used to verify their identities and their interest in receiving services from a Participant in the relevant geographic area, i.e., the coverage area for DODC, or the Participant’s supported areas for ELAP. In certain programs, the PII will also be used to establish that the Stakeholders do not hold a controlling interest in a competitor. Once verified, Stakeholders may submit additional PII to establish that specific geolocations are eligible locations, such as evidence verifying ownership or occupancy of a location. Participation in any Consumer Challenge Process is voluntary. This system of records will become effective on March 9, 2021. Written comments on the routine uses are due by April 8, 2021. The routine uses will become effective on April 8, 2021, unless written comments are received that require a contrary determination.

The average Charter Communications broadband-only customer is now using 700 gigabytes of data per month, according to Christopher Winfrey, the cable operator’s CFO. Winfrey said the high level of wireline broadband usage is the No. 1 reason wireless companies won’t be able to pry broadband marketshare from cable with fixed wireless products. “The average wireless customers uses only 10 gigs a month,” Winfrey said. “The difference in utilization rates is significant. I don’t think that current wireless networks are designed to handle that kind of traffic.” Winfrey also provided some additional insight into the company’s plans to expand its broadband network into parts of 24 states. it's $5 billion multi-year rural broadband expansion plans will begin later this year but the bulk of the deployment will occur in 2022. Winfrey said that the extension of its network into these additional markets comes with low risk but added that these types of rural buildouts can take longer to monetize than other projects. However, he added that once Charter can deliver better broadband services to a rural community it typically gets high penetration rates. He also said that the economics of this project aren’t that different than a cable merger and acquisition, it’s just in this case the company is building a network.

A new bill to bring back net neutrality is on its way, spearheaded by Sen Ed Markey (D-MA), one of the open internet’s most fervent advocates. If a legislative solution isn’t viable, Democrats are preparing to pressure the Federal Communications Commission to take measures into its own hands (again). But the FCC awaits a fifth commissioner to provide a Democratic majority. Activists are already lining up to ensure that Biden’s pick for the next FCC commissioner won’t have any ties to the telecom industry. Still, any measure that would put net neutrality rules back in place at the FCC would be subject to yet another reversal under a new Republican-led administration in the next few years, making it even more important for Congress to try to find a solution. State laws are also beginning to go into effect. Nine states have introduced some form of net neutrality legislation in 2021. If more of these laws are approved, it could make legislating at the federal level even more of a challenge with Republicans seeking to make those laws moot through preemption. This momentum in the states could force both Republicans and Democrats to get serious about net neutrality legislation.