As originally posted on the Blandin on Broadband eNews…

Just when you think that you know it all, you get new information that messes with your confident line of thinking.  This morning, I saw a summary of a study by the Leichtman Research Group that claims that almost 80% of American households have a broadband connection at home and that two-thirds of those folks also have a smartphone with data plan.  So I am thinking “What’s with all this talk about the need for public entities and non-profits to promote broadband adoption?”  Later in the day, I answer a phone call from someone who sounds a bit like my 93 year old mom, which brings me back to my teen years – “Where are you?” she asks, probably hoping that I am not in India!

I have no idea how Janice got my phone number, but she lives in rural Minnesota.  She had just purchased a computer, but had no idea how to set it up.  Needing some good karma, I took her name and phone number, fired up Google and searched for her community’s library.  I talked with a very nice librarian (is there any other kind?) and she gave me the name and phone number of a kindly computer guy in town.  I called him, made the referral and he promised to call her. I am not sure if this would be free or fee for service, but hopefully Janice’s problem is solved!

The take rate study, Janice’s call and a meeting I attended yesterday puts several thoughts into my head.

First, we need to abandon the idea that we need broadband adoption activities to help telecom providers make their business case to invest in delivering broadband services. With the high costs of serving the remaining unserved areas with fiber to the home or fiber to the node DSL, it is impossible to make a business case for investment in these areas with an 80% or even a 100% adoption rate without some types of subsidy such as those that have enabled our rural coops to build fiber their networks or by using the long term finance capacity of government agencies.

Second, we need to continue to build support services for people like Janice who are new computer and Internet users.  The public purpose in providing this assistance is clear – a well-connected citizenry is well-positioned to use online government, business and health services as well as to improve their connection to friends and family.

Finally, a concept advanced some time ago by Danna MacKenzie, Cook County IT visionary at a Blandin event, was proved true to me again yesterday – everyone has their own level of digital illiteracy.  Yesterday, I was reminded of my technical shortcomings when I was at a meeting discussing hackathons and hackfests.  My conception of ‘coding’ is about as advanced as Janice’s computer set-up skills.  We all have lots of learning to do to keep up with our amazing world.  I give Janice a lot of credit for moving forward with her new computer and I am learning about hackathons.  As a side note, I am also enrolled in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) from Northwestern University School of Journalism looking at Google – with 41,000 other students from 150 countries!!