across the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (6) Achieving this goal requires overcoming many barriers. Governments of developing countries often lack the resources to make this investment, and there are sometimes significant barriers to private sector investment in connectivity, particularly in rural and other remote areas. (7) In addition to obstacles to expanding connectivity infrastructure, there are often barriers to access even where that infrastructure is in place. In the world’s least developed countries, one month of Internet access can cost well over the average person’s annual income. The cost of devices for accessing the Internet, a lack of digital and traditional literacy, gender and other inequality, and limited locally relevant content also combine to serve as barriers to universal Internet access and usage. (8) Even where infrastructure and devices are available, some governments are active in censoring and restricting access to certain content and services and enhancing surveillance over and repression of online conduct in contravention of internationally recognized human rights standards. According to a 2016 Freedom House study, 67 percent the world’s Internet users live in countries where criticism of the government, military, or ruling family has been subject to censorship. (9) While these are significant barriers, there are proven policies that countries can implement to address them. Creating a regulatory approach that promotes a competitive marketplace, taxing Internet access devices such as smartphones appropriately, promoting free expression and the free flow of data, and creating universal service funds are just some of the policies that can help bring the cost of infrastructure investment and Internet access to a more affordable level. (10) The United States is already a leader in promoting access to open, interoperable Internet around the world. For example, in April 2016, the Department of State launched a new diplomatic effort called Global