TECH

In these parts of Arizona, many still lack broadband access

Ledyard King and Mike Stucka
USA TODAY NETWORK
A second-grader works on a computer in her classroom at Hunters Point Boarding School in St. Michael’s, Arizona, in December 2019.

As federal officials debate pouring billions of dollars into broadband access, data suggests many of Arizona's schoolchildren and adults who preferred to work from home spent the pandemic with sub-par access to high-speed internet, particularly in the state's least-wealthy counties.

Advocates say that "digital divide" across the United States is due largely to two factors: a lack of internet infrastructure in the country's rural reaches and the relatively high cost of broadband that has made the service unaffordable for many in urban centers.

In about half of Arizona's counties — 8 of 15 — measured by a Federal Communications Commission study, broadband access is available to at least 68% of residents. Yet in about half of the state measured by Microsoft — 8 of 15 counties — no more than 32% of households actually have high-speed access, a USA TODAY analysis shows.

President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of Senate moderates have reached a deal on a far-reaching infrastructure plan that would direct $65 billion to increase broadband connectivity from coast-to-coast. Despite the agreement, it's unclear whether it would address the solutions some lawmakers want to see such as continued broadband subsidies for low-income families, greater competition among wireless providers and continued buildout of high-speed networks in poorer, rural areas.

The Biden administration estimates 30 million Americans live in areas that lack broadband infrastructure to provide minimally acceptable speeds.

'Digital divide': United States lags in broadband access, but will billions of dollars fix it?

In Arizona, 14% of residents don't have adequate broadband infrastructure and 45% live in areas that have only one internet provider, according to the White House.

Locally, on the FCC and Microsoft measures:

  • In Maricopa County, 93% of households could get broadband but 65% actually had it.
  • In Pinal County, 68% of households could get broadband but 28% actually had it.
  • In Yavapai County, 87% of households could get broadband but 46% actually had it.
  • In Gila County, 71% of households could get broadband but 34% actually had it.
  • In Navajo County, 47% of households could get broadband but 27% actually had it.
  • In Graham County, 68% of households could get broadband but 39% actually had it.

The proportions of Arizona households that have high speed access varies widely: In Apache County, it's just 5%; in Santa Cruz County, it's 11%; and in La Paz County, it's 19%. Leading the state are Maricopa County with 65%, Yavapai County with 46% and Pima County with 44%.

A USA TODAY analysis of data nationwide found a wide gap between rich and poor counties, as measured by median household income. The chasm varies depending on state and county.