Pew Research reports…

This issue brief identifies four cornerstones of a state‑level policy framework that, when pursued together, create the conditions necessary for universal broadband access:

• Dedicated broadband deployment funding.
• Affordability requirements for broadband service.
• Minimum speed standards.
• Network scalability requirements.

These cornerstones are not a prescriptive model that states must adopt in identical ways. Rather, they are a foundational set of policies that can be adapted to each state’s needs and that together address availability, affordability, performance, and long-term quality, creating the conditions for universal access. States should still consider ways of building on these cornerstones, including policies to sustain SBOs, alleviate barriers to broadband deployment, enable program evaluation, and help residents get online and make effective use of their connections, including through digital skills training and access to devices such as computers and tablets. Research indicates that such policies help safeguard affordable access and support competition, investment in scalable broadband infrastructure, and economic return.