High-speed access to the internet is no longer a novelty. Online access is arguably an essential utility. The benefits of connecting with loved ones and self-selected digital communities are clear. The internet is today’s sandwich board where anyone can spin up the next great idea for a small business – not from the storefront window below their apartment to reach those walking by, but from their kitchen table to reach anyone on the globe. Even today, some school districts still require remote learning days, which demands access to reliable, high-speed connections.
This access must be affordable. Affordability means providing households with high-speed, 1-2 Gbps service for $10 a month, if not lower, for families in low-income demographics.
Subsidies
Government subsidies are needed to ensure fair access at a fair price. Regional internet service providers can not cover all the costs for equipment, labor, and bandwidth required to connect households if they do not have reliable revenue models in place.
Government-supported access must be a central topic in any discussion on the affordability of high-speed coverage for homes and anchor institutions.
Pricing
Service pricing should be equitable. There are ways to deliver that, including a sliding scale of fees based on income factors, granting bulk discounts based on pre-designated community investment zones, or long-term, municipal bulk purchasing agreements.
Co-ops
Community Owned Networks can provide services without the burden of maximizing profits for investors. The Co-op focuses instead on maintenance and quality, reinvesting into its infrastructure, maintaining advisory expertise, and longevity of the network and durability of all connection points.
The community serviced by the co-op benefits by knowing their internet utility is treating them fairly, they can participate in significant decisions regarding deployment, pricing, and delivery, and they can even volunteer to help build and maintain it.