High-speed Internet was already essential to modern American life even before the pandemic’s shift to Zoom meetings and remote classes. But not everyone has a fast hookup: at least 20 million people in the U.S. do not have access to basic broadband Internet. In April, AT&T CEO John Stankey announced a $2 billion pledge to help bridge the divide by offering more affordable broadband and expanding discounted wireless solutions to schools. The announcement builds upon a move from March of last year, when AT&T temporarily removed data caps for household Internet.
More Must-Read Stories From TIME
- Inside the Massive Effort to Change the Way Kids Are Taught to Read
- Dubai's Real Estate Market is Booming. One Company is Making It Possible to Invest From Anywhere in the World
- How to Exercise When It's Really Hot Outside
- A New Documentary Sheds Light on a Pivotal Movement in Asian American History
- Far From Home: Afghan Women are Attempting to Build New Lives Abroad
- What Experts Say About How Valuable The Inflation Reduction Act's Green Subsidies Will Be
- What to Know About Long COVID in Kids
- Want to Do More Good? This Movement Might Have the Answer
