Closing the Digital Divide
Internet access (broadband deployment) and impact on unserved and underserved communities, especially LGBTQ+ communities.
How does access to broadband impact the LGBTQ+ community?
Approximately 5.6% of Americans identify as LGBT+.
LGBTQIA+ individuals rely heavily on broadband in order to access basic information, services, and support.
Community
Many LGBTQIA+ individuals face discrimination or lack acceptance in their physical communities. Access to broadband helps to connect LGBTQIA+ people to others in the community as well as to supportive and empowering spaces.
Health
LGBTQIA+ individuals often struggle to access healthcare services that are informed and inclusive of their identities. Because of this, many rely on the internet to find health information and adequate healthcare providers.
Resources
The internet is a key tool in helping LGBTQIA+ individuals secure inclusive jobs and safe housing, as well as for accessing crucial resources such as community centers, mental health services, and emergency hotlines.
Carlos Gutierrez
Deputy Director & General Counsel
LGBT Tech
We can’t meaningfully expand internet access with a one-size fit-all approach. A move toward 100/100Mbps speeds as the threshold for determining who does and does not have broadband would mean only about 42% of households currently have access to broadband. This will result in government dollars being directed to overbuilding in already-connected areas – and the burden of this erroneous policy will fall on the backs of unserved communities.
