The end of the Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP) and changes to the Digital Equity Act have made broadband bills a burden for needy families, and new solutions are needed. That’s according to a new report from Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) organization within the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), published February 26.
Nearly a third of older Americans (32%) lacked fully wired broadband access at home according to 2023 data, the AARP report pointed out, amounting to more than 19 million people. That figure was an improvement from 2018, when 22 million seniors lacked wireline broadband access.
The AARP study didn’t count 5G home internet or 5G mobile plans as broadband access, saying 5G services can be inconsistent and may impose data caps or surprise slowdowns. That can be a big problem for “aging-in-place systems such as medical alerts, in-home monitoring devices, and smart-home technology for accessibility (e.g., voice-activated assistance).”
“There is little doubt that 5G will eventually provide equivalent capabilities, but for the time being, it does not integrate as smoothly with this infrastructure,” researchers said.
Even excluding the adoption of 5G home internet, seniors fared better in 2023 in terms of connectivity than they had in 2018. More seniors had large-screen devices in 2023 than they did in 2018. In addition, seven million more seniors got access to mobile services between 2018 and 2023.
The AARP report broke down the disparities even further, saying the following groups had wireline broadband access at home:
- Low income: Only 48% of seniors with incomes below $25,000 per year
- Older: Only 61% of adults age 75 or older had wired broadband connections
- Less educated: Only 53% percent of older adults with less than a high school education have wireline broadband at home, compared to 68% of adults who had finished high school
The AARP report also dialed in on senior broadband access by state and highlighted Alaska as an example of success in reducing connectivity disparity for seniors. It named the following initiatives:
- Massive public infrastructure investment, with programs including the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, USDA ReConnect, and the Alaska Plan
- Targeted outreach, especially in Native villages or remote communities
- Public-private partnerships, often involving tribal governments, nonprofit ISPs, and the state
- Subsidized or standardized broadband pricing for Tribal and rural programs
In comparison, the five states facing the biggest challenges were West Virginia, Mississippi, North Dakota, Alabama, and Wyoming.
Nearby Kentucky was also among the states with the largest gaps in broadband access based on income, the AARP report noted. That falls in line with a recent report by the broadband advocacy group Connected Nation, which uncovered higher prices per Mbps of speed in lower-income areas in Louisville.
The AARP report didn’t delve into policy changes enacted since 2023, but asserted that the landscape has changed.
“It is prudent to plan for a rollback of federal investment. In that event, states, localities, community groups, NGOs, and the private sector will likely need to take up the slack,” it read.
