Broadband expansion is a time when everyone needs to be on deck, says National Library representative

Library Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs (through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) E-rate program) are a supplement to broadband providers and a permanent connection in the home, not a replacement for those connections.

Larra Clark, associate director of the Public Policy and Advocacy Office of the American Library Association (ALA) and deputy director of the Public Library Association, told Telecompetitor in an interview.

Clark advocates for library broadband programs like hotspot lending because she believes that internet access unlocks a world of education and economic opportunity. “The way people find information, use information, and interact with the world is much more mediated by technology and the internet,” she said.

“The Internet… opens up all these possibilities, and if you don’t have access, you may not be aware of these possibilities. Or you know that (the possibility is there) and you just can’t afford to let it happen.”

What is a library?

Clark pointed out that the purpose of a library has changed over time. A library “used to be scrolls and papyrus scrolls, and now they offer streaming media.” It is “a place where everyone is welcome, where people are trying to connect their communities to resources.”

She described libraries as trusted institutions that serve the needs of a specific community. She called libraries “hyperlocal” and said she often quotes a twist on a familiar axiom: “If you’ve seen one library, you’ve seen one library.”

Today, Clark said, “America’s libraries are a cornerstone of digital equity. The work we have always done and will continue to do is to ensure that everyone has access to the internet and technology.”

Libraries, broadband access and broadband providers

When the FCC first considered expanding the E-rate program to allow schools and libraries to offer Wi-Fi hotspot loans, voices from within the broadband industry were concerned. NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association filed official comments with the FCC stating that “providing a subsidized hotspot to a household makes little sense if a robust connection already exists in that household.”

However, Clark does not believe that hotspot lending programs compete with, and cannot coexist with, the connection that a broadband provider brings to a home.

“Library hotspot lending has been crucial during the pandemic, but it does not compete with home broadband. It is a supplement and a stopgap, but it is not the end goal. We know that our customers want and need consistent, affordable, and reliable superfast internet. That is the job of providers.

“We don’t want to look at this as an either/or,” she said. “We think (library hotspot lending) is a complementary addition.”

Clark argued that broadband programs in libraries are intended to provide connectivity — both in the library and at home, via Wi-Fi hotspots — especially to people who can’t afford their own connection or who only have access to poor service.

“It feels like an ‘all hands on deck’ moment right now. That’s true for libraries and schools, providers, national funders — we have an opportunity to work together to raise awareness and confidence in using the internet, and all that it can offer people.”

The future

Clark noted that promoting broadband is something everyone in the US can get behind: “Access, affordability and digital skills are the three legs of the stool. They may play out differently in different communities, but they’re agreed upon across the political spectrum.”

When looking to the future of library broadband programs, she points to access and digital literacy as paramount. When asked about her ultimate vision for the future of broadband, Clark said, “It’s very simple: ubiquitous connectivity everywhere and everywhere people are, including libraries.

“But,” she continued, “I also want to reemphasize the skills and the lifelong learning element. Access is a fundamental first step or gateway, but it is not enough in itself… there is a national shift in perspective to develop an expectation and accessible pathways for lifelong learning. Of course, I believe that libraries — and schools and other community institutions — are a critical part of how we get there.”