The bold division was exacerbated in 32 states in 2024, and Owokla reports

Owokla, one of Driving Internet speed test sitesI was recently published Semi -annual report on the state of internet connection in the United States. The report, which includes the second half of 2024, reflects growth Bold gap Through 32 states. (Remove Responsibility: OKLA owned by Chef Davis, the same company that owns CNET.)

To measure the digital gap, OKla depends on the fast intelligence data, which was taught by Speedtest users in all fifty states. Then the number of users who receive the minimum Internet connection standards, which is what The Federal Communications Committee determines As 100 MB, the estuary and 20 megabytes per second on the source.

While 22 states witnessed improvements in the number of Internet users receiving at least 100 megabytes per second, most of this progress occurred in urban areas. OKla data reflects a special conflict for communication Rural familiesSince the states that have the largest digital gap were rural societies in Washington, Oregon, Ilinoi, Missouri and New Mexico.

“We doubt that some of this (the broad gap) is attributed to the end of the ACP,” Sue Marik, editor -in -chief of Owokla and the author of the report, told CNET. “We may see some other examples of this by the end of 2025.”

cancellation Reasonable prices programThe that ended in May 2024 due to the end of Congress boxes, was almost affected 23 million families That receives financial aid with monthly internet bills.

OKLA data notes a significant increase in the number of homes with fiber connection to the home, A record number 88.1 million homesMarek attributes this growth to funding the spread of wide range.

“But I think a lot (spreading the fibers) was driven by the financing of private stocks or that these major companies spent,” said Marik. “But does this really help the digital gap?”

as The wide range, fairness, access and publication (pill) program The construction is not yet produced, growth in the Internet connection can be attributed in the second half of 2024 to Digital stock capacity programthe Tribal broadcast communication program and Rural digital opportunities box. Marik notes that more than $ 11 billion in government financing has been distributed by these programs since 2020.

The okla report comes in the wake of The abolition of the digital stock law by President Donald TrumpIt was also considered the “Insatari” and “unconstitutional” program. The National Communications and Information Association, the organization responsible for managing the financing of the Digital stock law, removed the web pages related to the program.

“The obsession with this distorted administration by forcing the wars of right -wing extremist culture to all of us is not an acceptable or legal reason to deny countries to reach these funds,” Senator Patty Murray, a democratic in Washington who presented the bill in 2019, told a press conference on the Digital Equity Law.

Marik says that the effects of the decision to reduce the digital equity law will not be seen in Owokla reports until the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, the bead program is subject to a structural review, With industry experts, worried The program will be burned from the “fiber first” approach to a process that Illon Mousse prefers StarlinkThe satellite internet option that raised the tape to reach the Internet to rural areas, albeit at an expensive price.

While conflicts over the distribution of financing, the fate of the digital stock law and the bead love in the air, The bold is divided into growth at the expense of The most marginalized societies in the country.

To participate, Marik recommends contact The broad domain office in your state To find out how to approach the digital gap. “Each state has one,” said Marik.

In addition, it hosts NTIA a Granding dashboardSo that you can stay aware of the progress of projects funded by the bead in your state. To express directly about your concerns, you can also call Your local representatives And government officials.