When where you live offline determines if you can be online: the cost of connectivity
Channel: New America
Date: 2020-12-01

Claire Park of New America's Open Technology Institute delivered a lightning talk at RightsCon 2020 presenting results from OTI's Cost of Connectivity 2020 report. A full description of the talk is available below.

https://www.newamerica.org/oti/reports/cost-connectivity-2020/

Internet access is a must in today’s digital society, connecting people to jobs, healthcare, and government services, but is it really affordable? Resuming a study previously published annually between 2012 and 2014 that examined the cost and speed of broadband access worldwide, OTI’s Cost of Connectivity 2020 report studies 760 internet service plans in 28 cities across Asia, Europe, and North America. We find further evidence that consumers in the United States pay the most on average for monthly internet service than consumers abroad – especially for higher speed tiers. Meanwhile, the highest speeds can be found in Asia, where plans also lead on best cost-for-speed value, while the most affordable service can be found in Europe, which has the lowest average monthly prices for service at various speed tiers.  

This year's findings on internet affordability are especially timely as millions of people have moved to online classrooms, telework, and tele-health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Access to the internet is far from equal, and the digital divide disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities and low-income households. Cost is one of the biggest barriers to internet adoption, and it is likely to become an even bigger obstacle as jobs and incomes continue to be lost during the COVID-19 crisis. The report helps better identify and map out where and how people all over the world can be better connected.

====================================

We are dedicated to renewing the promise of America by continuing the quest to realize our nation's highest ideals, honestly confronting the challenges caused by rapid technological and social change, and seizing the opportunities those changes create.

Subscribe to our channel for new videos on a wide range of policy issues: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=newamericafoundation

Subscribe to The New America Weekly and other newsletters: http://www.newamerica.org/subscribe/#

Visit newamerica.org