Internet Society

According to the International Telecommunication Union’s Facts and Figures 2025, an estimated 6 billion people—about three-quarters of the world’s population—are now using the Internet. Ten years ago, the estimate was roughly 3.2 billion people. Nearly twice as many people today have access to the opportunities the Internet offers, and this is no small feat. But these numbers also remind us how far we still have to go. 2.2 billion people are still offline.

When considering the need to subsidize commercial LEO networks, we believe that it is first important to consider whether LEO Internet networks 1) Meet regulatory standards of quality and 2) Perform as well for low-income users as for high-income users. To answer these questions, we studied Starlink’s performance since it is currently the only widely deployed LEO network, although others are planned (e.g., Project Kuiper, IRIS^2).

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is one of several US federal and state government programs that seek to bridge the so-called “digital divide” through targeted consumer subsidies and support for infrastructure rollout. Though these subsidy programs aim to improve vital broadband and telecommunications access to low-income households, their uptake has varied across US states and counties. This fits the pattern of low participation rates in other means-tested broadband subsidy programs such as Lifeline and Linkup.

In 2022, Kathmandu-based Bikram Shrestha of the Nepal Internet Foundation was introduced to Chhepal Dorjee Sherpa, a trekking guide and entrepreneur who grew up in Khunde, Nepal. Bikram had prior experience with community networks, and together the two set out to build “the highest community network in the world.” At the time Khunde and Khumjung had patchy mobile phone coverage, with two dozen households paying about 1,000 rupees ($7.55) per month for an unreliable ADSL connection.

This guide offers an overview of federal funding options that could provide financial support to Tribal, state, and local governments and utilities in their efforts to expand broadband infrastructure. Varying dramatically in size, these funding opportunities target a wide variety of deployment scenarios and end users. The programs encompass infrastructure buildout, service subsidies, and technical planning assistance. This guide provides information on a range of funding opportunities—most of which are currently open, but some of which may be awaiting future funding.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the importance of broadband Internet connectivity into focus as work, school, healthcare, and more shift online. Internet connectivity is more important than ever in keeping our lives moving. The $1 million Expanding Potential in Communities (EPIC) Grant program supports broadband initiatives in the southeastern United States, funded by Truist Financial Corporation’s Truist Cares initiative, a $50 million philanthropic pledge to help rebuild communities in the company’s markets affected by COVID-19.

The Internet Society presented the prestigious Jonathan B. Postel Service Award to Onno W.

Eleven individuals hailing from six countries around the world, including Peru, Japan, Brazil, Netherlands, Togo and the US, are being inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame for their pioneering and visionary contributions to the Internet’s global growth, access and security. The 2019 inductees: 

Next Century Cities teamed up with the Internet Society and Neighborly to create the Becoming Broadband Ready toolkit. This comprehensive toolkit provides local leaders with a roadmap to encourage broadband investment in their community. While every community will choose to tackle connectivity a little differently – a small island community and a large urban center will likely have unique considerations and approaches – there are many common threads that run through successful broadband projects.

Since 2004, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings on net neutrality have been caught in a vicious cycle. They have been passed, fought in court, and returned to the FCC with minor (and sometimes major) revisions.