Broadband access is a hot policy topic right now, particularly after the scramble caused by the closing of schools and offices during the pandemic. We cannot merely try to avoid a repeat of the disruption caused in 2020. To be ready for 2030, it is critical to recognize that fast, reliable internet access is the most pressing infrastructure need the nation faces. The information superhighway needs to reach every residence in the US, so that every American can participate in the modern economy.
The Dallas County Commissioners Court is proposing three new approaches. First, a benchmark of 95/2 — meeting the needs of 95% of the population at a cost of 2% or less of their monthly after-tax income. Second, an emphasis on obtainability as well as affordability in what’s called the “last mile” connection. And finally, a new business model bringing together key players in North Texas who should be coordinating (but aren’t) and should be working with private and public resources and with an urgency thus far lacking.
How dramatically can our world change with ubiquitous broadband? We can achieve unparalleled preventive health care. Broadband is already recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services as a “superdeterminant of health.” Imagine more frequent contact with health care providers and testing submitted via internet-connected devices at home. Help for mental health before an illness escalates could provide real relief.
Our students would catch up from time lost during the pandemic and trek into new accredited classes that could not be offered effectively at their home schools. Continuous job skills training would be abundant, as will new opportunities to work from home in the knowledge economy.
The speed of interaction with the web must be quick to accomplish all of this at home. Internet speeds are quantified in units called megabits per second (mbps), which refers to the amount of information that can be communicated from one place to another in one second.
Download speed tells you how fast you can receive data. Upload speed is how fast you can send data.
The Federal Communication Commission’s first standard was 200 kbps for both downloading and uploading. In 2010, the FCC changed the standard to 4 mbps down and 1 mbps up. (This is what most Dallas County residents currently purchase from their service providers.)
In 2015, the FCC increased the standard to 25 mbps down and 3 mbps up. To add context to this number, 25 mbps of download speed is hardly enough for hosting one Zoom call while someone else in the same house is streaming one Netflix show. It is widely believed that the FCC will soon change the standard again to higher data transmission speeds.
Broadband connection is not a rural issue. Almost 80% of Dallas County residents lack broadband access as defined by the 2015 FCC standard, while almost 30% of Dallas County residents lack access to even the 2010 FCC standard.
Unfortunately, even when reliable broadband access is available, steep costs often prevent it from being obtainable. High prices result in decreased access for those who cannot pay broadband costs. The average portion of income necessary to receive broadband access is 2.56% in Dallas County. Many households in Dallas County spend over 3% of their monthly incomes on broadband access, with some paying over 8%. To put that into perspective, the average household in the United States spends a smaller percentage on education (2.09%) and electricity (2.15%).
The risk is personal to everyone, and if access is left unaddressed it will become an economic issue for the county if it is unable to attract or retain jobs due to a lack of healthy, skilled workers.
The 95/2 Goal is crucial. We cannot afford to let so many of our children and families fall behind. Everyone needs access to jobs, education and health care. As we continue to see this gap widen, the commissioners court is taking action to reverse this damage. The tools actually exist. We need commitment and leadership to march forward.
J.J. Koch is a Dallas County commissioner. He wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.
Todd Furniss contributed to this column.