ITIF-通过终止过时的宽带计划来维持负担得起的连接（英）-2023.7-13页_246kb

Summary of ITIF Report: Ending Obsolete Broadband Programs to Sustain Affordable Connectivity

Key Findings

• Federal broadband subsidy programs are inefficient, duplicative, and wasteful, having failed to close the geographic digital divide despite significant funding.
• BEAD program, with its $42.45 billion allocation, has the potential to connect rural and urban areas at reasonable costs, provided it uses appropriate technologies.
• The High-Cost program, Lifeline, and USDA's ReConnect program are redundant and should be discontinued.
• Redirecting savings from obsolete programs, estimated at $6.43 billion, can sustain the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
• Subsidies alone are insufficient for closing the digital divide; they do not address nonfinancial barriers like lack of interest or price sensitivity.

Recommendations

• Eliminate redundant federal broadband programs, including FCC's High-Cost, Lifeline, and USDA's ReConnect, to fund ACP from program savings.
• Use BEAD's funding to encourage affordable connectivity and reduce dependency on outdated subsidies.
• Strengthen ACP by potentially adjusting benefits or eligibility to enhance affordability and reach.
• Focus on digital inclusion efforts beyond subsidies to address barriers like digital literacy and trust.

Additional Context

While BEAD aims for universal connectivity, subsidies cannot fully bridge the digital divide on their own. ACP, with sustained funding, can improve affordability, but broader efforts in digital literacy and adoption are necessary.