Clyburn, Wheeler Discuss Digital Divide in Detroit

The FCC can’t solve the problems of the digital divide on its own, said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Chairman Tom Wheeler in a Tuesday blog post about their meeting with Detroit local leaders at the city’s Henry Ford Innovation Institute. “If we ever hope to achieve universal broadband in the United States, we will need a concerted effort from private sector leaders, the public interest community, and government officials at all levels,” said the blog post. Low-income residents of Detroit without internet access miss out on savings available to those who do have broadband, Clyburn said. People who can’t get online also don’t enjoy health benefits from tech like remote monitoring, the blog post said. Efforts the FCC is taking to address the problem include E-rate modernization and the Connect America Fund, the blog said. “Looking ahead, we spoke about the need to reboot the Commission’s Lifeline program for the Internet age, which will help connect low-income Americans.”