Internet

Mecklenburg County has a big problem with the digital divide. But zoom out, and it becomes apparent that broadband internet access is as much — if not more — of a rural problem.

At the dawn of the internet, some believed the new technology would make “democracy finally possible.” In many ways, the opposite happened. From hate speech to misinformation, some products of the internet have only worsened democratic ideals. Still, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna argues digital equality can be restored.

At the dawn of the internet, some believed the new technology would make “democracy finally possible.” In many ways, the opposite happened. From hate speech to misinformation, some products of the internet have only worsened democratic ideals. Still, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna argues digital equality can be restored.

The research, conducted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic studies, shows that 38% of Black residents in the rural South have no home internet access, compared to 23% of white residents.

The state’s Appalachian region lags behind the rest of the state in internet connection recent data from the Appalachian Regional Commission shows.

Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on perhaps the most-hated web browser that once dominated the competition. Internet Explorer will be put to rest in the summer of 2022.

North Carolina and five other states have joined the Federal Trade Commission in suing Frontier Communications over slower-than-advertised DSL internet speeds.

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders say they’ve found a solution to address the potential loss of $30 million in federal coronavirus relief funds for rural broadband.

State lawmakers earmarked $30 million of North Carolina’s federal coronavirus money for rural broadband infrastructure grants. The program gives matching grants to internet service providers for projects that bolster high-speed internet access in rural North Carolina. But the North Carolina Office of Broadband Infrastructure said the state determined that U.S. Department of Treasury guidelines prohibit CARES Act funds from being used for rural broadband projects.

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020Many in Charlotte and across the country lived in the digital divide long before the pandemic. Now, it has become “a national…