Coalition Formed to Bring Broadband to Underserved

A group of companies has formed a coalition to serve low-income communities with broadband and to apply for stimulus funds.

The Digital Adoption Coalition includes AT&T, BendBroadband, Bresnan Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision Systems, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, Connected Nation, Eagle Communications, Dell, Intel Corporation, Mediacom Communications, Microsoft, Midcontinent Communications, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), One Economy Corporation, Sjoberg’s Cable TV, Suddenlink Communications, Time Warner Cable, US Cable Group, and USTelecom.

The Digital Adoption Coalition’s comprehensive approach is proposed in an application to the federal government for broadband stimulus funding.

Each partner intends to provide concrete solutions to facilitate sustained broadband adoption.

One Economy, a global nonprofit, filed an application with NTIA on March 15 on behalf of the coalition for funding through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) to support digital literacy training, discounted computers, and project administration.

"Under this program, if approved by the federal government, cable companies serving communities comprising more than 85 percent of American households would provide qualifying HUD families in their service area with significant discounts on cable’s broadband Internet service,” said James Assey, EVP of NCTA, in a statement.