Montana’s digital divide: Rural communities deserve broadband access

Montana is one of the poorest states in terms of internet connectivity, according to data compiled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Ninety-two percent of Montanans who live in urban areas have access to high-speed internet; however, that figure for rural Montanans is only 59 percent. In other words, two out of five rural Montanans do not yet have broadband access.

The people lucky enough to live in Montana’s rural communities know that a few sacrifices come with the territory. But that’s not to say that rural Montanans should be expected to miss out on certain opportunities just because they’ve chosen not to live in an urban center.

Access to education and health care, for instance, are essential services that all Montanans deserve equally.

But today there is a rural-urban gap growing, and if it’s not addressed, rural Montanans are going to be left behind. Specifically, I’m referring to what is called the "digital divide," the problem whereby rural Americans do not have access to high-speed internet.

ROGER WEBB

https://missoulian.com/opinion/columnists/montana-s-digital-divide-rural-communities-deserve-broadband-access/article_c9a63bdc-2e41-56fb-b74a-b58c13a55df8.html