Session Description
High-speed broadband connectivity is important for Americans to unlock economic opportunities, quality education, access to healthcare and civic participation in the U.S. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which includes $65B to bridge the digital divide to provide broadband access to unserved and underserved. Accenture was commissioned by CTIA to develop a study showing that 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) could bring robust broadband connectivity to nearly half of rural households in the U.S. and is a viable alternative to fiber to the premises. However, broadband access to unserved and underserved is also a suburban and urban issue. The panel will discuss the government grants access process and how there are existing programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program which could address some of the access issues immediately.
