COVID-19 and Rural Broadband: A Call to Action or More of the Same?

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed attention to broadband, and the federal response included significant funding for this issue. The broadband policy landscape shifted from its traditional emphasis on providing infrastructure to also include subsidizing the costs associated with devices and monthly subscriptions. Rural experiences with schooling and healthcare during the pandemic demonstrate that addressing the digital divide is not a short-term process.