Broadband Expansion: What Are the Essential Components?

Collected resources on the basic elements of bringing high-speed internet to the nation

Despite more than three decades of public and private efforts to expand broadband availability, at least 18 million Americans nationwide—and perhaps more than 42 million—lack access to high-speed internet service. And millions more cannot afford a broadband connection even if one is available. 

Broadband relies on a complex, interconnected infrastructure to connect users to content. These networks are overwhelmingly owned and run by for-profit entities, which operate in a largely unregulated policy environment. A range of factors—including population density, historic market patterns, and state law—influence which communities are connected to high-speed, reliable internet service. The publications collected here explore the fundamentals of broadband policy.

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America’s Overdose Crisis
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

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America’s Overdose Crisis

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37 Scientists Pioneering the Future of Biomedical Research

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Biomedical researchers are at the heart of nearly every medical advancement. From cutting-edge cancer treatments to breakthrough discoveries about emerging viruses, these scientists use creativity and ingenuity to explore new horizons in human health and medicine. And for nearly 40 years, The Pew Charitable Trusts has supported more than 1,000 early-career researchers committed to this work.

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Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

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How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?