The purpose of this assignment is to explore selected complex ethical issues related to information access and security in the 21st century. Please address the topic below related to broadband internet access in rural communities in the United States.

You will collectively review a collection of provided articles and links listed below related to the digital divide topic and then consider the challenge through multiple stakeholder lenses and collectively develop possible solutions. All articles are not required to be used, but at least one of the articles below must be used.

First, an overall summary (100-200 words) on how this need for broadband access should be addressed. This may simply be a A (Telecom) or B (Local) choice – or possibly a mixture of both.

Why Broadband access still a problemhttps://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-06-09/te…

FCC Broadband Access Reports (new window)https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broad…

Center for Rural Strategieshttps://www.ruralstrategies.org/broadband

Taxpayers Strategy https://www.vice.com/en/article/3d98mw/tennessee-c…

Digital divide among students https://www.crpe.org/thelens/digital-divide-among-…

Cities Teaming up https://www.wired.com/story/fcc-southern-californi…

Questions to Consider:

• Who should be responsible for providing broadband access to under-served regions? Should the commercial industry providers be compelled to provide it?
• What role should state governments play in addressing access to broadband internet in under-served regions?
• What are appropriate strategies for financial support of broadband in under-served areas? Federal subsidies to consumers? Federal subsidies to providers?
• What role should rural municipal governments play in addressing broadband access in their community.

Answer preview

The local government should be responsible for providing broadband access to under-served regions. The government is obligated to provide access to marginalize areas and ensure they receive municipal fibre networks and internet access (United States News, 2016). The commercial industry providers should not be compelled to provide broadband access. The local…

 

(300 words)