Hartford Business Journal

20 Hartford Business Journal | February 22, 2021 | HartfordBusiness.com By Liese Klein lklein@hartfordbusiness.com A nyone who has watched in horror as their Wi-Fi conks out during a work Zoom meeting knows how important internet access is in 2021. But the providers of that service are also watching with concern as Connecticut's state government ramps up efforts to seek greater control over their plans, policies and checkbooks. "It's critically clear in the 21st century the importance of having access to reliable internet," state Budget Chief Melissa McCaw said during a recent briefing on the proposed state budget. "This is also about economic opportunity to the extent to which more remote work is done. There are sectors of our population that don't have access to those types of jobs without closing the broadband divide." Central to the issue is the state's persistent digital divide, the difficulty that a portion of the community has in getting online. Gov. Ned Lamont's office estimates that 23% of Connecticut's population can't access reliable internet, either because they lack service, skills or the right devices. Lamont's focus for 2021 is building out the broadband infrastructure. "I am reminded of the saying, 'If you build it, they will come,' " Lamont said of internet access. "When it comes to broadband, if you don't build it, they won't have a chance." Lamont laid out a plan allocating $2.85 million a year to the state Office of Policy and Management for the broadband mapping, planning and implementation required "to ensure a comprehensive build-out." Overseeing the telecom companies doing the build-out would be the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), which would handle "investigations, regulatory oversight and proceedings, and consumer inquiries." In addition, the state Office of Consumer Counsel would represent customers in PURA proceedings. In response to the governor's proposal, the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association highlighted statistics that show 99.1% of Connecticut's geography has access to broadband of 100 megabits per second or faster, thanks to cable company infrastructure investments of more than $2 billion in the last seven years. The state's 10 providers have also taken extra steps during the pandemic to provide low-cost service and devices to customers who struggle to afford internet access. "Connecticut is a national leader when it comes to broadband access and adoption," said Timothy Wilkerson, president of the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association. "Our networks have really met the moment in this absolutely dramatic uptick of usage during the pandemic." "Our focus, particularly in a state like Connecticut where we have such robust deployment, we're about adoption, actually getting people to sign up," Wilkerson said. Connecticut telecom companies have stepped up during the pandemic with multiple efforts to bridge the divide, he added. Charter Communications, based in Stamford, partnered with the state on a program called Stay Connected K-12, which provides free high- speed, cable broadband internet to students' homes. Discounted service is also offered to qualified low- income customers as part of another program, Spectrum Internet Assist. Philadelphia-based Comcast offers a $9.95 monthly package to low-income customers in its service areas called Internet Essentials. "Our Internet Essentials program – the nation's largest and most comprehensive high-speed internet adoption initiative – was designed to address barriers to adoption and has helped connect tens of thousands of low-income residents across Connecticut to the internet," said Kristen L. Roberts, Comcast vice president of communications for the company's Western New England Region. Since the pandemic, Comcast has expanded eligibility for the program multiple times and made the first 60 days of service free for those signing up before June 30. With ongoing efforts made to expand adoption, the industry would prefer to focus on upgrading its cable and software to allow for higher speeds for all customers, Wilkerson said. Plans are in the works for 10 gigabit cable broadband, which would eventually increase download speeds by a factor of 10. Replacing older technologies Melissa McCaw Tim Wilkerson Connectivity Debate Telecom companies stress internet adoption amid state broadband reform efforts As state lawmakers try to tighten oversight over internet providers, the industry, including Comcast, says it has invested more than $2 billion in Connecticut over the last seven years to build out the state's broadband infrastructure. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED

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