High-Speed Internet - Children in California

California

High-speed internet, or 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. Broadband access can enhance social connectedness, especially for older adults, by alleviating social isolation, strengthening community support and reducing feelings of loneliness. 

Internet access was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many employers and educators transitioned to remote work and learning. High-speed internet continues to be vital for receiving health care via telehealth, which has become increasingly common since 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, significant barriers remain to accessing high-speed internet.

Broadband internet access is higher among:

• College graduates compared with those who have less than a high school education.
• Those with an annual household income of $75,000 or more compared with those who have incomes less than $20,000.
• Those living 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.
• Implementing policies that require or encourage installing internet infrastructure during construction on other public infrastructure projects such as roads, sidewalks or telephone poles.
• Continuing funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, 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.
• Infrastructure investments like the Broadband Infrastructure Program, which awarded over $282 million in 2022 to projects that are expected to serve more than 140,000 unconnected households, 6,700 businesses and 585 community anchor institutions across 14 states and territories when construction is complete. This infrastructure development has enhanced public health by improving access to telehealth services, emergency response communications and digital health resources, particularly for rural communities and low-income households with limited healthcare access.

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.

de Wit, Kathryn. “How State Policy Shapes Broadband Deployment.” Issue Brief. Pew Research Center, December 17, 2019. https://pew.org/2tr3DYp.

Gajarawala, Shilpa N., and Jessica N. Pelkowski. “Telehealth Benefits and Barriers.” The Journal for Nurse Practitioners 17, no. 2 (February 2021): 218–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013.

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.

McClain, Colleen, Emily A. Vogels, Andrew Perrin, Stella Sechopoulos, and Lee Rainie. “The Internet and the Pandemic.” Pew Research Center, September 1, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/09/01/the-internet-and-the-pandemic/.

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/.