Between Markets and Mandates: Approaches to Promoting Broadband Access for Persons with Disabilities

For a person with a disability, the impact of broadband can be truly life-altering. It can empower social networking, mentoring, and connecting with the broader world. It expands access to information, resources, and tools to meet complex needs in emergencies and disasters. It may even provide an opportunity for employment. All of which makes this report. Between Markets and Mandates: Approaches to Promoting Broadband Access for Persons with Disabilities, by Krishna Jayakar of Pennsylvania State University, so timely and valuable.

This report examines access to broadband by individuals with disabilities in order to identify programs and policies that promote broadband adoption. It begins by identifying significant barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing broadband, including availability in their locations of residence, affordability, and device and content accessibility.