surement of whether or not Internet access is available. The digital divide is further measured by the following: The amount of available bandwidth This is the network capacity in terms of bits per second and cost per kilobit or per megabit compared to urban sections of a country. In 2018, the FCC in defined broadband bandwidth as 25/3-25 megabits downstream to subscribers and 3 megabits upstream to the Internet. The quality of computer equipment available to users Is it compatible with the latest browsers and is it capable of handling video? The availability of training Do users know how to navigate the Internet to accomplish their goals? The digital divide in the United States is decreasing in part because of the use of fixed wireless technologies in www.TechnicalPDF.com rural areas. AT&T, CenturyLink, Verizon, and Frontier all have stated their intention to increase broadband capacity in rural areas using new, higher capacity fixed wireless. See Chapter 7, "Mobile and Wi-Fi Networks," for information on fixed wireless technologies. However, according to Pew Research Center's 2016 surveys, the digital divide in the United States is most pronounced in: Minority populations Groups with lower incomes Residents in rural areas People with disabilities including those with low vision, hearing loss, and physical limitations Seniors-particularly lower-income, less-educated seniors Economic policies make a difference in the availability of broadband. Tax credits for new networks encourage carriers to upgrade equipment and infrastructure. Outright subsidies are a more direct option for improving networks. Countries such as Australia, China, and Japan have underwritten the cost of building fiber- optic or advanced mobile networks in rural areas. Improved broadband is one step in bringing remote areas into the online economy. Community resources can bridge some of the gaps in the digital divide. In the United States, public libraries provide free Internet access, computers, and often training in how to use them. This is pa