USA: Broadband Access and Adoption in New York State

This case study presents the United States’ National Broadband Plan digital strategy. With a focus on improving economic growth and opportunity by increasing high-speed Internet access and adoption, the case examines the implementation of related broadband initiatives in New York State in both rural and urban settings. It examines some of the strategies New York State has used to expand broadband usage—it ranks fifth nationally for access at the current FCC defined broadband speed—as well as the challenges that New York State confronts in providing more than one million people who are without broadband access. Government grants have proved helpful in increasing access in rural areas where private companies could not profitably provide service. New York City has successfully introduced innovative programs that target low adoption rates among low-income households, such as libraries offering patrons free rental of wireless hotspots for extended periods. Notable ongoing challenges include difficulties obtaining accurate data on adoption rates, the pace of technological change regarding physical broadband infrastructure and consumer behavior, and limited competition among Internet providers.