Why Does the Digital Divide Persist in the US?

Despite efforts to close the digital divide, urban-rural and income-based disparities in broadband access and adoption persist. Public broadband funding plays a critical role in closing these gaps. This chapter explores the nature of the broadband market and the sources of the digital divide. It profiles new federal policy initiatives and presents a multi-level governance framework for exploring federal, state, and local action. Infrastructure systems are critical for ensuring the flows of economic and social life. This chapter provides a framework for understanding broadband as a critical infrastructure.