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CenterFuse Broadband Feasibility Report An analysis of recent FCC 477 data shows that there is a direct correlation between household income and buying a home broadband connection. Only about half(53%) of households with annual incomes under$30,000 buy broadband. This contrasts sharply with 93% of homes with incomes over$75,000 buy broadband. There is no clearer evidence that there is an affordability gap for broadband. There are studies available for those who want to dig deeper into quantitative and qualitativeresearch into broadband affordability for low-income households. The first was published by the Benton Foundation and authored by Dr. Colin Rhinesmith.8 The second report is issued by the Quello Center and is authored by Bianca Reisdorf.9 This report looks at a study conducted in three low-income neighborhoods of Detroit. Both reports say that low-income households with a limited budget appreciate the advantage of having broadband at home but can't fit it into their budgets. They find it difficult or impossible to prioritize broadband compared to paying rent or buying food. These studies indicate that a big part of the solution for getting broadband into homes without it is going to have to involve finding a way to pay for the monthly broadband access. It's not easy to measure the affordability gap in Ellensburg (or anywhere). Every community has low- income homes and senior on fixed incomes where affording broadband is out of reach. We know from talking to the libraries in Ellensburg that there are residents who use the public computers since they can't afford broadband at home. Probably the best way to quantify the issue in Ellensburg would be to ask the libraries to give a short survey to people who use the library's broadband. Affordability is not the only reason why people don't have home broadband. Later in the report we discuss ways to address the affordability gap. Comparinz US Broadband Prices to the World Cable Company of the United Kingdom also tracks broadband prices around the world. The most recent comparison of prices is from 2020.10 The average price of broadband in the US in 2020 is $50. It's worth noting that these prices were gathered from advertised prices, and most big ISPs in the country advertise special prices that expire after a one or two-year period. The price also doesn't include the cost of a modem or WiFi router. Even using the absurdly low $50 price,the US ranks as the 119th most affordable out of 206 countries. However, it's worth noting that most of the countries that are more expensive than the US are either third world countries or island nations. The few exceptions of first world countries that are more expensive than the US are New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. In that same report, the US looks better when looking at advertised prices compared to advertised bandwidth. In that comparison the average cost per megabit of speed in the US is $0.26, placing the US 27th in terms of affordability. However, we know that many ISPs advertise speeds that are faster than what they actually deliver—but this may be true in other countries as well. We also know that many 8 Digital Inclusion and Meaningful Broadband Initiatives. https:l/www.benton.ors/publications/digital-inclusion- and-meaningful-broadband-adoption-initiatives 9 Broadband to the Neighborhood.https://aapers.ssm.conlsol3/papers.cfm?abstract id=3103457 1° Broadband prices around the world. https:llwww.cable.co.uklbroadbandlpricing/woridwidc-comparison! Page 44