Room 4: Affordable Broadband
Problem Definition:
There are too few choices of affordable broadband providers and their offerings are limited, varied in reach and quality.
Why is this a problem:
- Available broadband products are not designed for certain populations (low-income, rural, people without homes, people without bank accounts/credit cards, people with disabilities).
- Large ISPs do not have a business motivation to serve everyone.
- Large ISPs have a business motivation to keep low-income communities disconnected.
- Regulatory and service provider decisions are not a participatory process in low-income communities.
- Regulatory power is limited (there is no legislative guarantee on universal service).
- There is historical disinvestment in underserved areas due to low anticipated ROI.
- The barriers to entry for new ISPs are high.
- Incumbent ISPs use anti-competitive tactics (predatory pricing, exclusive arrangements, preemption regulations, lobbying).
- Government approaches to infrastructure expansion don't always create consumer options or allow local sovereignty.
Flip the Context:
- Advocacy pushes toward legislative solutions (strengthening reform of universal service legislation & enforcement).
- "Universal service" means access to telecom services connected to health, education, social safety nets, etc.
- Onramps for new service models and market entrants lower barriers to entry including eligibility to universal service funds/programs.
- Philanthropy/government invests in and cultivates a range of solutions (open access fiber/conduit).
- People have a range of options customized to different use, cases, and conditions.
- There is thoughtful consideration of intersections with other social outcomes - health, economic, education, learning, workforce, life, etc.
- State and local governments as well as community organizations have support and funding to test new models of internet delivery.
Timed Prompts:
- How might we empower community ownership of broadband?
- How might we involve impacted communities in decisions about internet service and availability?
- How can we make the broadband decision process more transparent for people and communities?
- How might we promote new, innovative, un-tested models for internet delivery?
- How might we leverage community anchor organizations like schools, hospitals, and libraries to expand the availability of internet in currently underserved communities?
