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Bridging the Digital Divide with Broadband

Microsoft is launching a broadband internet service using unused television broadcast channels known as white spaces to provide connectivity to rural Americans. The white space technology can cover long distances and penetrate obstacles using low-powered signals. This will help close the digital divide for those living in remote areas without fast internet access. Additionally, Comcast's Internet Essentials program has connected over eight million low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities to affordable broadband internet for $9.95 per month since 2011. A survey of participants found that many have specific goals for online activities and want training to better utilize the internet.

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46 views1 page

Bridging the Digital Divide with Broadband

Microsoft is launching a broadband internet service using unused television broadcast channels known as white spaces to provide connectivity to rural Americans. The white space technology can cover long distances and penetrate obstacles using low-powered signals. This will help close the digital divide for those living in remote areas without fast internet access. Additionally, Comcast's Internet Essentials program has connected over eight million low-income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities to affordable broadband internet for $9.95 per month since 2011. A survey of participants found that many have specific goals for online activities and want training to better utilize the internet.

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Closing Digital Divide

Now a days, an internet connection is a must-have for school,


healthcare, communicating with friends, finding a job, and starting a
business. While broadband service is now available to most Americans,
too many families remain unconnected to this important network.

Microsoft: Microsoft has a technology to help with connectivity that it is


now taking the wraps off: unused channels between television broadcast
known as white spaces. Under Microsoft plan, which the software
company rolled out, it will start a broadband service using white space
technology in 12 states. The technology itself uses low-powered
television channels to cover long distances and can penetrate obstacles
like concrete walls. This plan would help rural Americans- many of
whom live in remote areas that haven’t had fast internet service – get
exactly that kind of services. The company is positioning white space
technology as a potential way to plug the digital divide.

Internet Essentials: which has reached more than eight million low-
income individuals, seniors, and people with disabilities since the start
of the program in 2011, offers a $9.95 monthly service, subsidized
computers for less than $150, and free digital literacy training online, in
person, and in print to encourage broadband adoption. The report
examines survey results of participants in the program, and reveals that
many of IE's subscribers have specific goals when it comes to their
online activities, as well as interest in receiving training that will further
empower them as internet users.

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