This week, we’re going to take an in-depth look at an interesting question: “What is broadband without affordability?”
The United States government is poised to spend more than $42 billion on broadband expansions across the country in a quest to bring internet connectivity to every citizen. But the recent collapse of the government’s Affordable Connectivity Program – which provided monthly subsidies to help eligible citizens pay for their broadband service – has raised a critical question. What use is broadband availability if the people who need it can’t afford the service?
In this episode, we’ll chat with Gigi Sohn, a former FCC nominee who is currently the Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband and Secretary for the Affordable Broadband Campaign.
We’ll also speak with Jake Varn, from the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Broadband Access Initiative team.
Together, we’ll try to wrap our arms around what broadband affordability really means, why it matters and what will happen to programs like BEAD in the U.S. if people can’t afford the services that are built to connect them.
This podcast is written and hosted by Diana Goovaerts. It is edited by Diana Goovaerts and Matt Rickman. Liz Coyne is our executive producer.
Register for our upcoming Broadband Nation Expo here and use code DIANA200 for a special discount on your conference pass: https://www.broadbandnationexpo.com/usbroadbandsummitcom/register
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
Affordable Connectivity Program is over – now what? https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/affordable-connectivity-program-over-now-what
Court upholds low-cost internet law in blow to ISPs https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/court-upholds-low-cost-internet-law-blow-isps
Top 3 takeaways from Fierce’s panel on broadband affordability https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/top-3-takeaways-fierces-panel-broadband-affordability