Stories

Life on a farm conjures up idyllic images of communing with nature, working the land, and getting back to what’s essential. Increasingly, however, a successful farm is dependent on another factor: highspeed internet.

More clearly than ever before, the last 15 months of pandemic crisis have demonstrated that broadband is not a luxury but a necessity, one that enriches education, improves social mobility, and increases economic growth. In honor of #WorldWifiDay on June 20, we’re offering seven stats that reveal the critical importance of broadband in our lives.

With each passing year, broadband is getting faster, cheaper, and more widely available. Although we still have a way to go to ensure that every American has access to broadband, it is worth taking a moment to look at how far we’ve come.

The public-health crisis of the past year has made it clear: broadband internet is an essential service and while millions of Americans have relied on their broadband connections for work, school and to stay connected with loved ones, some Americans still do not have access to high-speed connections. Broadband providers leaped into the breach, launching a series of programs in partnership with governmental agencies and community organizations to get families connected and close those gaps. And now, those same providers are working with the Federal Communications Commission in a promising new initiative: the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

Although the COVID pandemic has been rough on many industries, theater, with its in-person performances and crowded auditoriums, is one of the areas that has been most affected. Across the nation, actors, companies, and venues have struggled with cancelled seasons and vanishing audiences while expenses, like rents and payrolls, have not disappeared.

While the benefits of staying connected virtually are far-reaching, screen time overload has, as a consequence, become a major issue. We’re going to look at adult screen-time overload – and how to combat it.

If there’s one thing the past year has taught us, it’s that nothing can replace person-to-person contact. But thanks to a recipe of creativity and reliable broadband, friends and families across America have been able to maintain – and even strengthen – their relationships during this challenging era.

As we put 2020 behind us, we will both celebrate our successes and look ahead to what 2021 has in store for internet and technology.