Report to FCC details barriers to broadband adoption

New York Law School's Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP) released a report to the FCC explaining the barriers to widespread broadband adoption among six focus areas: senior citizens, people with disabilities, telemedicine, energy, education and government.

The report cites:

While the adoption rate for all U.S. adults has steadily increased over the last few years, more than half of some demographic groups (e.g., senior citizens, people with disabilities, African Americans, and people earning less than $20,000) do not subscribe to broadband. In addition, even though broadband is a dynamic platform...adoption and use remains relatively low in key sectors of the U.S. economy.

The paper is meant to be a starting point for further discussions on how to increase broadband adoption among key demographics and sectors.

According to the ACLP "each sector faces a unique set of barriers to further broadband adoption" and will thus require "carefully tailored policies that target the distinctive needs of each discrete group".

Read the ACLP's full report here.

The report was commissioned by the FCC as part of its data gathering for the development of the National Broadband Plan. The plan is due to Congress in February 2010.

Barriers to Broadband Adoption (ACLP New York Law School)

FCC Announces Release of Report on Barriers to Broadband Adoption (FCC)