Thursday, August 22, 2019

Report: Southern California Still Faces Broadband Digital Divide

According to a new report, issued this week, Southern California still has a big "digital divide", between those who have access to affordable, wired broadband, and those that do not. According to BroadbandNow Research, just 68 percent of Californians have access to a $60 or less monthly wired broadband plan--and many California still don't have any kind of wired Internet access at all. BroadbandNow Research said the study shows this disproportionately impacts rural and lower socio-economic groups and the social and economic opportunities of residents. The study defined "affordable wired broadband" as a stand-alone internet broadband speed plan that is $60 or less (excluding introductory or promotional pricing) and broadband as speeds of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload as defined by the FCC. The report cited such areas as the Lucerne Valley, Baker, El Centro, Lake Havasu, and Ridgecrest as areas particularly lacking in options.