Closing the Digital Divide

Promoting Broadband Adoption Among Underserved Populations

Categorized Under: Community Development

In this white paper, ICF International experts, in partnership with the National League of Cities (NLC), examine the challenges and benefits of broadband adoption as well as summarize current efforts to address these challenges at the U.S. federal, state, and local levels and in the private sector.

The National Broadband Plan has a stated goal that the United States achieve an Internet adoption rate of 90 percent by 2020. According to a 2011 survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, about 66 percent of American adults have broadband Internet at home. The survey also found that about 15 percent of adults do not use the Internet at all; those in this 15 percent rate are also more likely to be minorities, low-income, disabled, elderly, or living in rural areas. As an increasingly diverse array of essential resources are moved online, failure to address the lower levels of adoption among these groups may cause them to fall behind economically, socially, and politically. Many U.S. federal, state, and local programs are working to increase adoption rates in these hard-to-serve demographic groups.

Related Market + Service Offerings

Broadband + Telecommunications

Authored By

Katherine Bates
Expert ConsultantICF International

For two decades, Katherine Bates has been managing and leading state and local government programs on public finance, infrastructure, community and economic development, information technology, broadband policy development, affordable housing development, and disaster preparedness and management. She has expertise in policy and program analysis, research, and marketing, especially related to community and economic development, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness.

At the National League of Cities (NLC), she managed the policy development process on information technology and communications. She compiled “best practice” documents for local elected leaders in the areas of affordable housing and community development, infrastructure, and public safety.
Lara Malakoff
Associate ICF International

Lara Malakoff has more than eight years of experience in urban planning and policy, local government, and workforce analysis. She supports broadband business and economic development efforts as well as citizen engagement efforts. While at the Center for Research and Innovation within the National League of Cities (NLC), Ms. Malakoff reviewed and edited all publications in economic development, governance and civic engagement, housing and community development, transportation, technology and telecommunications, and sustainability.

Ms. Malakoff has a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a B.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The George Washington University.
Julia Pulidindi
Senior AssociateThe National League of Cities

Julia Pulidindi has been with the National League of Cities (NLC) for 7 years and has worked on a variety of policy issues, including public finance, transportation, and telecommunications in addition to staffing the Large Cities Council. At NLC's Center for Research and Innovation, Ms. Pulidindi focuses on transportation and telecommunications infrastructure.

Ms. Pulidindi has a master's degree in Development Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and a bachelor's degree in Financial Economics from Richmond College, the American International University in London.