COVID-19 prompted an emergency shift to remote learning that illuminated a major pain point within higher education—access to reliable broadband service and technology. A series of national surveys reported that 16–19% of higher education students experience technology barriers such as inadequate internet connection that inhibit their participation in online learning. This percentage increases for lower-income students (20–30%) and students living in rural areas (14–25%).

The disparity between those who can and cannot access this necessary technology is much more than a technology gap—it’s a life gap.