ABSTRACT
This book has outlined the major issues in extending broadband in rural, low-income, and minority communities, and has articulated the implications for future policy. This book has shown the various ways in which states play a critical role in rural broadband deployment – how they distribute funds, and how they regulate broadband deployment. In this chapter, we articulate a digital inclusion framework that centers public values to support equity at the redistributional, procedural and conceptual levels. We call for a shift in conceptual values that recognizes digital inclusion as foundational to broad social and economic well-being. Procedurally, this requires state and federal policy to address market failure and support local initiatives, such as the cases outlined in this book. We have shown how local coalitions explore innovative ownership models and partnerships, which should be supported in state and federal policy design. Redistributional equity means we must close gaps by class, race, age, gender, and geography. This requires attention not only to physical infrastructure access, but also to affordability and adoption. Closing the digital divide is a collective effort that calls for coordination across all levels of government, and cooperation with local actors, especially as federal funding makes new investments possible.
