High-Speed Internet - Children in United States

United States

High-speed internet, also known as broadband internet, is an essential resource for work, education and effective communication. The United Nations declared access to the internet a basic human right, citing its importance for social and economic development. Researchers have also identified access to high-speed internet as a social determinant of health. 

Internet access was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic as many employers and educators transitioned to remote work and learning. High-speed internet also provides vital access to health care via telehealth, which has become increasingly common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of access to high-speed internet can limit educational and economic opportunities and sources of social interaction. Despite its necessity, there remain significant barriers to accessing high-speed internet.

Broadband internet access is higher among:

• College graduates compared with those with less than a high school education.
• Those with an annual household income of $75,000 or more compared with those with an income less than $20,000.
• Those who live in urban/metropolitan areas compared with those who live in rural areas or on tribal lands
• White adults compared with Black and Hispanic adults.

Cost can be a significant barrier to accessing high-speed internet at home. State policies and programs to make broadband internet more affordable and accessible include:

• Providing financing and incentives for organizations and companies working to expand broadband infrastructure.
• Policies that require or encourage installing internet infrastructure during construction on other public infrastructure projects such as roads, sidewalks or telephone poles.
• The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal program that ensures low-income households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, health care and more. Eligible households can receive discounted or no-cost high-speed internet. Check eligibility requirements and apply here.

Healthy People 2030 has a goal to increase the proportion of adults with broadband internet access.

Bauerly, Brittney Crock, Russell F. McCord, Rachel Hulkower, and Dawn Pepin. “Broadband Access as a Public Health Issue: The Role of Law in Expanding Broadband Access and Connecting Underserved Communities for Better Health Outcomes.” The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 47, no. S2 (June 2019): 39–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073110519857314.

Greenberg-Worisek, Alexandra J., Shaheen Kurani, Lila J. Finney Rutten, Kelly D. Blake, Richard P. Moser, and Bradford W. Hesse. “Tracking Healthy People 2020 Internet, Broadband, and Mobile Device Access Goals: An Update Using Data From the Health Information National Trends Survey.” Journal of Medical Internet Research 21, no. 6 (June 24, 2019): e13300. https://doi.org/10.2196/13300.

Julien, Howard M., Lauren A. Eberly, and Srinath Adusumalli. “Telemedicine and the Forgotten America.” Circulation 142, no. 4 (July 28, 2020): 312–14. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.048535.

Nowland, Rebecca, Elizabeth A. Necka, and John T. Cacioppo. “Loneliness and Social Internet Use: Pathways to Reconnection in a Digital World?” Perspectives on Psychological Science 13, no. 1 (January 2018): 70–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617713052.

Perrin, Andrew. “Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021.” Pew Research Center, June 3, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/06/03/mobile-technology-and-home-broadband-2021/.