By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 5-6-21

The House Energy & Commerce Committee waded into broadband as an equity issue Thursday (May 6) in a hearing “addressing disparities in access and affordability.”

Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said one problem creating digital disparities has been too narrow a definition of the digital divide.

“Studies have shown that within all sorts of different communities broadband service isn’t always available or of equal quality. Certain communities somehow always find themselves at the back of the line when it comes to upgrades to the network,” he said.

Pallone said the digital divide between races and ethnicities when it comes to access hurts students and their ability to get jobs.  » Read More