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digital divide
Trends
- 1AI boom pushes cheapest smartphones out of reach▼The AI boom is making the cheapest smartphones disappear
The surge in AI data center construction is driving up demand for memory chips, and manufacturers are shifting supply toward high-margin products. As a result, budget smartphone makers are struggling to source affordable memory, and the cheapest phones are vanishing from the market. Commenters warn this worsens the digital divide, pricing low-income users out of basic mobile access.
- 2New York Affordable Broadband Act Offers Low-Cost Internet to Eligible Families▼NYS Affordable Broadband Act - Low-Cost Internet for Eligible Families
The New York State Affordable Broadband Act requires major internet providers to offer low-cost service to qualifying low-income households. School districts, including the William Floyd School District, are helping spread the word so eligible families can access affordable home internet. The program is aimed at closing the digital divide for households that have struggled to pay for connectivity.
- 3Pennsylvania to Spend $448 Million on Broadband Expansion▼Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority Announce More Than $448 Million in BEAD Funding to Expand Pennsylvanians’ Access to Affordable High-Speed Internet
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority announced more than $448 million in federal BEAD funding to expand access to affordable high-speed internet across the state. The money, part of the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, is aimed at connecting underserved communities. State officials highlighted the investment as a major step toward closing Pennsylvania's digital divide.
- 4Pennsylvania Awards First $448 Million in BEAD Broadband Funding▼Pennsylvania Awards First $448 Million in BEAD Funding
Pennsylvania has issued its first $448 million in federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding, directing the money toward expanding high-speed internet access across the state. The awards mark the start of a major infrastructure push aimed at connecting underserved and rural communities, and observers are watching how quickly construction and new service commitments follow.