People who qualify for federal assistance may be eligible for low-cost internet access. The demand for such programs is increasing as unemployment soars. Experts say that access to high-speed internet is critical to everything from homeschooling to remote working to job hunting. “Programs like these are essential now more than ever amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which has proven once and for all that the internet is no mere luxury,” Tyler Cooper, editor-in-chief of BroadbandNow, a database of internet providers, said in an email interview. “It is a requirement for daily living, and like water and electricity, it must be made as accessible as possible to every single American. Access to the internet lets us stay connected to one another from a distance; it allows us to continue to learn, work, and support our families.”
Speedy Yet Cheap
Verizon is making high-quality and reliable high-speed internet with no data caps more accessible to customers who qualify for financial assistance through Verizon Fios Forward. Fios Forward is faster than traditional home Internet assistance programs and lowers Fios’ cost to $19.99 per month plus tax. “Our guiding principle is that we create the networks that move the world forward. Far too many families will be left behind if their home Internet can’t keep pace with today’s demands for learning and work,” Frank Boulben, senior vice president of consumer marketing and product at Verizon, said in a news release. “We know the impact connectivity has on advancement, so we’re extending Fios Forward to support digital inclusion and help create opportunity with affordable access to high-performing broadband Internet.” Many other ISPs offer similar programs, Cooper said, pointing to plans such as AT&T Access, Internet Essentials from Comcast, Spectrum Internet Assist, Cox Connect2Compete, and others. “Each of these programs has varying requirements to qualify, though virtually all of them require household participation in at least one federal assistance program,” he added. State and local governments are jumping in to demand low internet fees for struggling users.
Governments Push for Lower Costs
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he wants ISPs in the state to be forced to offer high-speed internet to low-income people at $15 per month. He also proposed building a fund for families that can’t afford it at that rate. “Access is one thing, but access, if it’s not affordable, is meaningless,” Cuomo said during his State of the State address. “A basic high-speed internet plan costs on average more than $50 per month. For too many families, this just isn’t affordable.” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski recently announced the county would offer six months of free internet access for low-income residents. “With our children learning remotely, many people working from home, and critical services like medical appointments moving online, we have been reminded of our responsibility to ensure that every resident has access to affordable high-speed internet service,” Olszewski told a local CBS station. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, argued recently in a report that the ultimate solution to the problem of providing more comprehensive access to broadband is for the US to build a universal fiber infrastructure plan. The group says that fiber is a better and ultimately cheaper solution than the current last-mile broadband options. “While many in government will talk about how we need to get “broadband” to everyone, what they should really be talking about is how we get 21st-century-ready fiber infrastructure to everyone,” according to the report. “This distinction is important because we have already spent billions upon billions of dollars building `broadband’ with virtually nothing to show for it. That happened because we subsidized slow speeds on any old network with little expectation of future increases in capacity.” The digital divide is widening as the pandemic marches on, and it’s become increasingly clear that businesses and governments need to do more to ensure that all Americans have equal access to high-speed internet.
