Bridging the Digital Divide: Spectrum Policy, Program Diversity and Consumer Rights

Closing the “digital divide” – the gap between society’s tech-enabled haves and have-nots – hinges on enhancing the quality and breadth of consumer access to digital and information technology in areas such as education, employment, health care, news and entertainment. As digital citizenship gains traction as a fundamental right, what should the government do to bridge the technology divide? How should access options be reformed, and what will programming offerings look like in the future? How will legislative and regulatory policies shape future access to further benefit consumers? How will spectrum policy changes impact under-served, geographically-isolated populations and consumers at different economic levels in our society?

On May 5, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings hosted a forum on innovative solutions that the government can implement to expand citizen access to digital and information technology, focusing on spectrum policies.

After the program, panelists took audience questions.