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Internet and COVID-19

To the editor:

We live in one of the approximately 25% of households in Houghton County who do not have access to broadband. We rely on a Verizon hotspot for our internet. The monthly cost for this “unlimited” plan is $270 with a 60GB cap (the U.S. median internet subscriber usage is 250GB/month). Once we reach the data cap we go into “safety mode” which depending on traffic, results in excruciatingly slow speeds if one is lucky enough to load a page. We use approximately 2GB of data per day if we don’t do any automatic updates or stream anything. Telemedicine, Skype, FaceTime, YouTube videos and Netflix movies are out of the question. We usually run out of data and go into safety mode every month for approximately 7-10 days. We can purchase extra data at $15 for one gigabyte but you can see how quickly connectivity becomes unaffordable. As inconvenient as this is, until now we could update our computers or upload or download an image or document by going to a public place with Wi-Fi such as a coffee shop or library.

Since restaurants and libraries have closed, many no longer have access to the internet. As people are encouraged to work remotely and students’ classes have moved online, lack of connectivity leaves those without internet access extremely disadvantaged. I run a business (Empty Nest Estate Sales) and require internet access. Since we are no longer able to conduct sales in peoples’ homes-and like other businesses who have been forced to work remotely-we now rely on online sales. My daughter is an independent researcher and no longer has access to libraries or public spaces for her work.

Connectivity is a necessity, not a luxury. Day-to-day transactions such as banking, accessing our medical files through web portals, Telemedicine, and ordering food and supplies have moved from physical spaces to online. The Daily Mining Gazette recently published contact information for government offices that have closed or reduced their hours during the pandemic. The Secretary of State, Social Security, CDC, and other government agencies are directing people seeking information or services to their websites. As worrisome and disruptive as the pandemic is, not being able to access up-to-date information or conduct business only adds to the uncertainty and stress.

The lack of rural broadband is a problem that must be addressed during a national emergency. One temporary solution until the digital divide is closed is for government agencies to provide public drive-up spots, that comply with social distancing restrictions, where people can connect to the internet. As antiquated as this might seem, it would provide relief to those who are unable to connect any other way. Of course, this is only a partial solution and would provide no relief for those without access to cars or laptop computers. The real issue is getting broadband connections to rural homes.

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