Broadband Funding Can Support Digital Learning

Access to high-speed internet can be crucial for digital learning. Over the past few years, federal and state governments have allocated substantial funding to improve access to high-speed internet.

Despite overall progress, substantial difficulties remain in measuring who actually has access to high-speed internet, in reaching some areas of the country, and in inequities of use when high-speed internet is available.

As digital learning becomes more ubiquitous, there is huge potential for improving equity for marginalized students. Without intentional effort to address inequities in access to high-speed internet, however, digital learning’s promise can be limited and instead rendered another tool that further marginalizes some groups of students (and potential students). Fortunately, recently passed federal legislation provides major financial support to states and creates an opportunity to make substantial headway on equitably improving access to high-speed internet.