Americans are struggling in many different ways today — but for many people, the lack of access to current digital technologies is an obstacle standing between them and prosperity. It’s called the digital divide, and it’s an increasingly serious problem that threatens people’s ability to move up economically and connect socially.

At the same time, ultra-fast fiber optic internet service has become increasingly widespread, to the point where more than half of all American households now have fiber as a home internet option. Could fiber internet service be the technology that scores some long-overdue victories against the digital divide? These are some of the ways that we might see the expansion of rural fiber internet unfolding soon.

Understanding the Digital Divide

What Is the Digital Divide?

The digital divide is the name given to the social and economic divisions between people with access to high-speed internet service and those without. This gap in access creates significant disadvantages for those without reliable internet, especially in rural areas, low-income households, and among older adults.

In many cases, the digital divide is rooted in geography, since rural areas often have less developed internet infrastructure. Sometimes, it’s about unfamiliarity with the technology, as with some older people who have difficulty using the internet. No matter the cause, it’s an increasingly concerning problem that threatens many people’s ability to keep up in the new economy. 

Internet Speed and Accessibility

One of the biggest elements of the digital divide is access to broadband internet. By the US Department of Agriculture’s numbers, 22.3% of rural households currently don’t have access to broadband. That’s due to a combination of difficulties in bringing broadband to rural areas, which we’ll talk about in a minute.

Without broadband access, it’s hard for people not to fall behind in technology, education, business, and many of the other markers of 21st-century prosperity. Telehealth appointments, job applications, and online education are much harder to access. Even everyday tasks like accessing government services or just staying connected with loved ones are suddenly far more time-consuming and inaccessible than they would be with broadband internet access. 

The Advantages of Fiber Optic Internet

Fiber optic internet is the gold-standard internet technology of today. A fiber connection transmits data as pulses of light through glass fibers, making it incredibly fast and reliable compared to traditional internet that uses copper-based cable lines. For users, that means lightning-fast download and upload speeds, smoother streaming, lag-free gaming, and a more stable connection overall.

Fast Downloads and Uploads

Fiber optic internet is comparable to or better than the best cable internet on download speeds. However, fiber also offers something cable doesn’t: symmetrical upload and download speeds.  This means that sending data (like during a video conference or when backing up files to the cloud) is just as fast as receiving it. That’s crucial for applications like telehealth and videoconferencing that rely on seamless two-way communication.

Lower Latency

Fiber optic internet excels at providing low latency, which is the time it takes for data to travel back and forth. This responsiveness is essential for any online activity that demands real-time interaction. Gamers need it to avoid frustrating lag, video callers need it for smooth conversations, and remote workers rely on it for seamless collaboration and productivity.

Reliable Performance

Fiber internet is also resilient in ways that coaxial or DSL internet can’t match. Its performance is far less vulnerable to weather conditions like snow, ice, and storms, thanks to its buried cables and invulnerability to electrical interference. That makes it a potentially good fit for some rural areas where challenging weather conditions can be an obstacle to reliable cable internet service. 

High Bandwidth

Fiber optic internet boasts incredibly high bandwidth, which is basically the capacity to handle large amounts of data. This means multiple users and devices can be online simultaneously, all doing data-heavy activities like streaming, gaming, and video conferencing without slowing each other down. Fiber ensures a smooth online experience for everyone in your household, even during peak usage times.

How Fiber Optic Internet Could Help Bridge the Digital Divide

The ultra-fast internet speeds and superior reliability of fiber internet make it the clear choice for the future of digital infrastructure — so long as its implementation challenges can be solved. Let’s take a minute to look at the potential paths forward for rural fiber optic internet. 

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Expanding Rural Internet Access

The reliable, resilient nature of fiber could sometimes make it a good choice for digital infrastructure projects in rural areas. Unlike traditional copper-based internet, which can be vulnerable to weather and distance limitations, fiber optic cables offer consistent performance and high speeds, even in remote locations. Fiber is also highly scalable, so once the infrastructure is in place, upgrading capacity is often relatively easy.

Educational and Economic Opportunity

Fiber internet access can be the engine of opportunity for people who need help getting into the 21st-century workforce. High-speed, reliable broadband opens up an incredible range of options like online classes, business ownership, and new creative tools. In places where access to traditional education and employment opportunities can be limited, fiber internet can often be a lifeline to a brighter future.

Implementation Challenges

Unfortunately, some substantial challenges have to be solved before fiber can make a real dent in the digital divide. Fiber infrastructure is tricky and expensive to install in rural areas, and there’s not always enough demand to support ISPs in expanding their services to these sparsely populated areas. Overcoming these obstacles will require innovative solutions and collaboration to ensure the rollout of high-speed fiber doesn’t follow the existing pattern of underserving rural communities.

Where Does Fiber Go From Here?

The future of fiber expansion projects depends on the ability to put all options on the table, from public-private partnerships to government grants. By bringing together government resources and private sector expertise, these collaborations can unlock the funding needed to build critical 21st-century infrastructure where it’s needed the most.