Data Reveal U.S. Broadband Being Deployed Equitably Across Races, Ethnic Groups, and Income Brackets, With Some Exceptions
While new white paper identifies no significant trend between overall broadband availability and income or race/ethnicity, broadband gaps for rural communities, high poverty communities, and Native Americans indicate further research warranted
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2024 - Today, Vernonburg Group released a white paper showing that home broadband connections have largely been deployed equitably, irrespective of income or racial/ethnic identity, with a few exceptions that may warrant further research and possible policy interventions. The in-depth analysis provides significant insights on broadband availability data across demographics, with the purpose of assessing whether broadband providers are closing the digital divide for all United States (U.S.) residents, not just certain populations.
The white paper shows that rurality has a significant impact on broadband availability for people of all races and incomes and might help explain differences between some groups. The research also highlights the disproportionate challenges faced by Native American communities, which experience the most significant barriers to broadband access, irrespective of income or rurality.
The data analysis goes on to reveal differences in the deployment of broadband technologies and how they may impact different demographics. Cable-based broadband is generally ubiquitously available across a provider’s service area regardless of household incomes, while fiber-based broadband providers have not deployed their networks in many lower-income communities.
Paul Garnett, CEO and Founder of Vernonburg Group, commented: “Enabling fixed broadband availability across the United States is essential to ensuring no one is left behind. While today’s white paper reveals U.S. broadband providers have made significant progress towards achieving Internet for All, it is important these efforts benefit all U.S. residents, including those in rural, Native American, high poverty, and other communities that still remain underserved.
I am pleased to see the data suggest lower-income consumers and communities of color largely enjoy access to broadband on par with higher-income and White consumers. However, it is imperative we continue to stay vigilant in ensuring broadband continues to be deployed equitably and to further research the barriers experienced by the populations that remain unserved. I am hopeful broadband providers will carry on with their efforts to expand their networks and policymakers will continue to pursue complementary and targeted policy interventions to address these gaps.”
Vernonburg Group is dedicated to providing access to data and analysis that help service providers and policymakers understand the broadband gap. A reliable home Internet connection can have a transformative impact on families and enable access to a wealth of untapped opportunities for people across the U.S. That’s why late last year Vernonburg Group unveiled the “Digital Equity Map,” a free online broadband data visualization tool, which helps users visualize all publicly available U.S. broadband data. The latest data helps service providers, community-based groups, and policymakers further bridge the digital divide.
Paul Garnett will present the white paper on Wednesday, April 10 at 11 AM ET in Washington, D.C. at “Achieving Internet for All, Addressing Discrimination and Rurality.” At the event he will discuss the role of broadband availability and the concept of "rurality" in achieving reliable, high-speed broadband for all. Garnett will join a panel of industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the BEAD rollout and how the white paper findings can help inform states’ BEAD rollouts at a crucial inflection point. To attend the event or watch via live stream, RSVP here.
About Vernonburg Group
Vernonburg Group is a full-service consulting firm 100 percent focused on closing the global digital divide. Vernonburg Group works with companies, governments, non-profits, and other organizations that have a vested interest in seeing billions more people and things connected to the Internet.
The work Vernonburg Group performs for its clients encompasses digital equity programming design and implementation, large scale broadband project feasibilities, public sector and private sector fundraising, broadband mapping and economic modeling, broadband policy and regulation, and market research and risk assessment. Vernonburg Group believes that affordable broadband access should be a human right. Vernonburg Group also believes that technologies and business models already exist that could be used to close the broadband gap and increase adoption. Vernonburg Group believes that, with the right technologies, policies, and partnerships, the broadband gap can be closed once and for all.