BREAKING NEWSBREAKING NEWSCoronavirus: More than 11,000 cases in California, deaths in every Bay ACoronavirus: More than 11,000 cases in California, deaths in every Bay Acountycounty

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Coronavirus: Think theCoronavirus: Think thelockdown is bad? Trylockdown is bad? Trywithout internetwithout internetTens of millions of people are still leftTens of millions of people are still leftout due to cost, reach of broadbandout due to cost, reach of broadband

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By Tali Arbel and Michael Casey | Associated PressBy Tali Arbel and Michael Casey | Associated Press

NEW YORK — In Sandwich, New Hampshire, a town of 1,200 best known as theNEW YORK — In Sandwich, New Hampshire, a town of 1,200 best known as thesetting for the movie “On Golden Pond,” broadband is scarce. Forget streamingsetting for the movie “On Golden Pond,” broadband is scarce. Forget streamingNetflix, much less working or studying from home. Even the police departmentNetflix, much less working or studying from home. Even the police departmenthas trouble uploading its reports.has trouble uploading its reports.

Julie Dolan, a 65-year-old retiree in Sandwich, has asthma. Her husband hasJulie Dolan, a 65-year-old retiree in Sandwich, has asthma. Her husband hashigh blood pressure. Dolan doubts her substandard home internet could managehigh blood pressure. Dolan doubts her substandard home internet could managea remote medical appointment, and these days no one wants to visit the doctora remote medical appointment, and these days no one wants to visit the doctorif they can help it. That leaves 19th-century technology — the phone. “That isif they can help it. That leaves 19th-century technology — the phone. “That isall I would have,” she says.all I would have,” she says.

As schools, workplaces and public services shut down in the age of coronavirus,As schools, workplaces and public services shut down in the age of coronavirus,online connections are keeping Americans in touch with vital institutions andonline connections are keeping Americans in touch with vital institutions andeach other. But that’s not much of an option when fast internet service is hard toeach other. But that’s not much of an option when fast internet service is hard tocome by.come by.

Although efforts to extend broadband service have made progress in recentAlthough efforts to extend broadband service have made progress in recentyears, tens of millions of people are still left out, largely because phone andyears, tens of millions of people are still left out, largely because phone andcable companies hesitate to invest in far-flung rural areas. Governmentcable companies hesitate to invest in far-flung rural areas. Governmentsubsidies in the billions haven’t fully fixed the problem.subsidies in the billions haven’t fully fixed the problem.

Many more simply can’t afford broadband. U.S. broadband costs more than inMany more simply can’t afford broadband. U.S. broadband costs more than inmany comparable countries — an average of $58 a month compared to $46.55many comparable countries — an average of $58 a month compared to $46.55across 29 nations, according to a 2018 Federal Communications Commissionacross 29 nations, according to a 2018 Federal Communications Commissionreport.report.

Charles Krupa/Associated PressCharles Krupa/Associated PressAshley Bullard, left, sits on the porch of her family’sAshley Bullard, left, sits on the porch of her family’srural home in North Sandwich, N.H., as her daughtersrural home in North Sandwich, N.H., as her daughtersRaven, center, a senior in high school, and Willow,Raven, center, a senior in high school, and Willow,right, a freshman at Brandeis University, try toright, a freshman at Brandeis University, try tocomplete their classwork from home during the viruscomplete their classwork from home during the virusoutbreak on a very limited internet connection,outbreak on a very limited internet connection,Thursday, March 26, 2020.Thursday, March 26, 2020.

By By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS | |PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: March 31, 2020 at 2:55 p.m.March 31, 2020 at 2:55 p.m. | UPDATED: | UPDATED: April 1, 2020 at 3:52 a.m.April 1, 2020 at 3:52 a.m.

Such disconnected people “already have to work harder to tread water,” saidSuch disconnected people “already have to work harder to tread water,” saidChris Mitchell, who advocates for community broadband service at the InstituteChris Mitchell, who advocates for community broadband service at the Institutefor Local Self-Reliance. “I don’t think people appreciated the magnitude of thefor Local Self-Reliance. “I don’t think people appreciated the magnitude of theproblem.”problem.”

Even in cities, the high cost of internet access means many go without. Low-costEven in cities, the high cost of internet access means many go without. Low-costlocal alternatives such as libraries and cafes have shut down.local alternatives such as libraries and cafes have shut down.

In St. Louis, Stella Ashcraft, 63, lives from check to check and can’t affordIn St. Louis, Stella Ashcraft, 63, lives from check to check and can’t affordinternet. Her senior center, where she plays bingo, does puzzles and gets lunchinternet. Her senior center, where she plays bingo, does puzzles and gets lunchfive days a week, is closed. So is her church and the library where she checksfive days a week, is closed. So is her church and the library where she checksemail. She’s gotten texted photos of her newborn grandchild, but forget about aemail. She’s gotten texted photos of her newborn grandchild, but forget about aZoom call to see the baby.Zoom call to see the baby.

“I feel very withdrawn, isolated, alone,” she said.“I feel very withdrawn, isolated, alone,” she said.

There are no definitive numbers on those without broadband. The FCC puts theThere are no definitive numbers on those without broadband. The FCC puts thenumber at 21 million, but its data is faulty and most likely undercounts thenumber at 21 million, but its data is faulty and most likely undercounts theproblem. An independent group called BroadbandNow pegs it at 42 million. Theproblem. An independent group called BroadbandNow pegs it at 42 million. Thedigital divide disproportionately affects rural areas, African Americans, Latinosdigital divide disproportionately affects rural areas, African Americans, Latinosand Native Americans on tribal lands.and Native Americans on tribal lands.

Phone and cable companies have pledged not to cut people off if they can’t payPhone and cable companies have pledged not to cut people off if they can’t paybills and opened their Wi-Fi hotspots to the public. Some are expanding low-bills and opened their Wi-Fi hotspots to the public. Some are expanding low-cost programs for poor people and lifting data caps so more people can get andcost programs for poor people and lifting data caps so more people can get andstay connected.stay connected.

Millions of Americans working from home are learning to use online video inMillions of Americans working from home are learning to use online video inplace of face-to-face meetings, but that’s not an option for those with only aplace of face-to-face meetings, but that’s not an option for those with only atrickle of data service.trickle of data service.

Brie Morrissey, who owns a building outfitted with broadband in Dublin, NewBrie Morrissey, who owns a building outfitted with broadband in Dublin, NewHampshire, would prefer to maintain social distance by working from home. ButHampshire, would prefer to maintain social distance by working from home. Butshe keeps heading into the office for the connection, and as a result, isshe keeps heading into the office for the connection, and as a result, isconstantly cleaning the place — wiping down door knobs, the bathroom sinksconstantly cleaning the place — wiping down door knobs, the bathroom sinksand “every inch of the building,” she says.and “every inch of the building,” she says.

Morrissey avoids other tenants and won’t rent space to anyone else. Most peopleMorrissey avoids other tenants and won’t rent space to anyone else. Most peoplerecover from the virus, but the elderly and those with underlying conditions arerecover from the virus, but the elderly and those with underlying conditions aremore likely to get seriously ill or die.more likely to get seriously ill or die.

“I have to tell people to stay home and that we can’t accommodate them, which“I have to tell people to stay home and that we can’t accommodate them, whichis a hard thing to do for a small business owner in a small town,” she said. “Youis a hard thing to do for a small business owner in a small town,” she said. “Youobviously want to help. But following guidelines means for the most part weobviously want to help. But following guidelines means for the most part wecan’t.”can’t.”

Students, meanwhile, struggle with a “homework gap” when they can’t get orStudents, meanwhile, struggle with a “homework gap” when they can’t get orsubmit assignments, much less watch online lectures or participate insubmit assignments, much less watch online lectures or participate indiscussions. Online schoolwork is now the norm, but the millions of studentsdiscussions. Online schoolwork is now the norm, but the millions of studentswho don’t have home internet or access to computers at home require creativewho don’t have home internet or access to computers at home require creativesolutions as schools shut down.solutions as schools shut down.

In rural western Alabama, less than 1% of Perry County’s roughly 9,100In rural western Alabama, less than 1% of Perry County’s roughly 9,100residents have high-quality internet at home, so online lessons are out. Countyresidents have high-quality internet at home, so online lessons are out. Countyteachers spent three days manually loading scanned images of math worksheetsteachers spent three days manually loading scanned images of math worksheetsand other materials on to iPads and Chromebooks for the system’s 1,100and other materials on to iPads and Chromebooks for the system’s 1,100students to take home while out of class, said Superintendent John Heard.students to take home while out of class, said Superintendent John Heard.

A New York City family shelter has no Wi-Fi and 175 school-age children, onlyA New York City family shelter has no Wi-Fi and 175 school-age children, only15 of whom have laptops. City schools are sending some kids tablets equipped15 of whom have laptops. City schools are sending some kids tablets equippedwith internet service. But Estrella Montanez, who runs the shelter, worries thatwith internet service. But Estrella Montanez, who runs the shelter, worries thatkids will have trouble managing remote work.kids will have trouble managing remote work.

“Many families are not so tech-savvy,” she said.“Many families are not so tech-savvy,” she said.

Lawmakers want the federal government to send schools and libraries moreLawmakers want the federal government to send schools and libraries moremoney to lend out Wi-Fi hotspots to students. But the FCC says it’s notmoney to lend out Wi-Fi hotspots to students. But the FCC says it’s notauthorized to do that under current law and is discussing a solution withauthorized to do that under current law and is discussing a solution withCongress.Congress.

On Navajo Nation, the country’s largest Native American reservation, it’sOn Navajo Nation, the country’s largest Native American reservation, it’scommon to see people sitting in their vehicles at night outside local governmentcommon to see people sitting in their vehicles at night outside local governmentcenters, fast-food restaurants and grocery stores to connect to Wi-Fi. Dinécenters, fast-food restaurants and grocery stores to connect to Wi-Fi. DinéCollege is lending laptops to students and asking internet providers to improveCollege is lending laptops to students and asking internet providers to improveservice.service.

Digital-access advocates hope that this crisis propels the government to doDigital-access advocates hope that this crisis propels the government to domore to get people connected. In some places, relief was expected later thismore to get people connected. In some places, relief was expected later thisyear. But that’s too late to help with the current crisis.year. But that’s too late to help with the current crisis.

A cable company is supposed to start servicing Berkshires town Peru,A cable company is supposed to start servicing Berkshires town Peru,Massachusetts, later this year. State Rep. Paul Mark has only satellite internetMassachusetts, later this year. State Rep. Paul Mark has only satellite internetnow, though, and that doesn’t let him videoconference. Even Facebook video isnow, though, and that doesn’t let him videoconference. Even Facebook video isa strain. And, like many others in his area, he also has unreliable mobile servicea strain. And, like many others in his area, he also has unreliable mobile serviceat home. To help his constituents, he has to get in his car and drive around toat home. To help his constituents, he has to get in his car and drive around toget on calls and go on local TV and radio.get on calls and go on local TV and radio.

“It’s a hassle,” he said during a recent phone interview from his car as he drove“It’s a hassle,” he said during a recent phone interview from his car as he droveto the Boston statehouse. Then the line went dead.to the Boston statehouse. Then the line went dead.

AP writers Jay Reeves contributed from Birmingham, Alabama; Anthony IzaguirreAP writers Jay Reeves contributed from Birmingham, Alabama; Anthony Izaguirrefrom Charleston, W.Va.; Michael Casey from Boston; Wilson Ring from Stowe,from Charleston, W.Va.; Michael Casey from Boston; Wilson Ring from Stowe,Vermont; and Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona contributed to this report.Vermont; and Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona contributed to this report.

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