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What is Ethernet? The wired network connection, explained

ethernet cable being plugged into internet router
Ethernet is a wired internet connection that uses Ethernet cables.

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  • Ethernet is the most common type of local area network (LAN) technology, and it involves a hardwired connection to the internet.
  • Ethernet comes in several varieties including Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and 10-gigabit Ethernet.
  • While Ethernet is more stable and secure than Wi-Fi, it is typically less accessible and can be more expensive.
  • Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

While Wi-Fi may be the more easily available option for connecting to the internet these days, many homes and businesses still rely on Ethernet to create networks between devices as well as between those devices and the online world.

What is Ethernet?

Ethernet is the most common type of local area network (LAN) technology, and it involves a hardwired connection to the internet through Ethernet cables. These cables – such as Cat5, Cat6, and so on – are used to tether a device to an internet router and transfer data.

Ethernet has the benefit of being faster than Wi-Fi thanks to its use of cables for a wired connection and its lack of reliance on radio waves; it also happens to be more stable and secure for the same reasons.

Ethernet cables plugged into internet router
Ethernet cables connect your devices to an internet router.

Yanawut Suntornkij / EyeEm/Getty Images

Ethernet functions on a local area network (LAN) basis, connecting a series of computers over a distance of up to about 10 kilometers, typically in a school or workplace setting within the same building.

While Ethernet might seem slightly outdated in the age of wireless connection, it remains highly useful for particular, intensive tasks, such as video streaming and virtual communication.

Advantages of Ethernet

  • Speed: An Ethernet connection is almost always faster than Wi-Fi because it uses a cable to transfer data nearly instantaneously, whereas a wireless network relies on the comparatively slow and diffuse transfer of data over radio waves.
  • Stability: By the same token, Ethernet tends to make for a more stable connection to the internet than Wi-Fi, as its tethered cables provide a stability that a dependency on wireless frequencies can’t consistently offer.
  • Security: Ethernet connections are also more secure since you can control who has access to the LAN; if someone isn’t connected to the LAN, they have no access to its data and devices.

Disadvantages of Ethernet

  • Accessibility: It’s more difficult to add users to an Ethernet network as doing so requires empty router ports and cables, and many devices such as tablets and mobile phones don’t have built-in Ethernet ports.
  • Transportability: The hardwired, physical connection of Ethernet isn’t easily transportable from one location to another or even from one device to another.
  • Cost: Because Ethernet connections require equipment to facilitate, they can be expensive to expand and take a considerable amount of time and energy. While a single home office may be relatively simple to outfit, expanding it throughout a house, office building, or campus takes some effort. Professionals may even be required if additional wiring is needed.

Modem vs. router: The differences between the pieces of hardware that connect you to the internet, explainedWhat is mesh Wi-Fi? Here’s what you need to know about the system that extends your Wi-Fi networkA guide to fiber optics, and how fiber-optic networks are improving data transfer7 ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal and improve your internet speed

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What is an ISP? The companies that provide you with access to the internet, explained

internet router being hooked up to desktop computer
ISPs can connect all of your devices to the internet.

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  • ISP is an acronym for internet service provider.
  • In addition to receiving an internet connection from an ISP, you may also be able to access an email account and web hosting services.
  • ISPs can come in many forms, like dial-up, high-speed (also called broadband), and DSL.
  • Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

If you’re reading this article, you can thank an internet service provider.

What is an ISP?

Internet service providers, or ISPs, are companies or organizations that provide you with access to the internet.

ISPs can also offer other options, like web hosting and email services, and they can range in form from giant telecommunication companies to small nonprofits.

When you connect to your ISP, you join its network to access the internet – whether that’s through a browser, a streaming platform, or an app on your phone. ISPs are also interconnected, and you can connect to many networks as you access different sites.

Some of the most prominent ISPs include:

  • Comcast
  • AT&T
  • Verizon
  • Spectrum

ISPs can provide Wi-Fi and Ethernet

Wi-Fi is a wireless internet connection that can be accessed through a router, while Ethernet requires a physical wire (known as an Ethernet cable) that connects your modem to your computer, TV, or video game console.

You can have an ISP that works with both. To be able to do that, you simply need a router that also has an Ethernet port. ISPs that allow for both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections accomplish this through what’s called a “mixed network.”

ethernet cable connected to laptop internet
You can hook up an Ethernet cable to your devices instead of using Wi-Fi.

Chalongrat Chuvaree / EyeEm/Getty Images

Using an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi can also help speed up your internet access.

‘Why isn’t my internet working?’: How to identify why you can’t connect to the internet and troubleshoot accordinglyHow to boost your internet speed at home in 8 ways, and make sure you’re not being overcharged for low speeds‘What is a good internet speed?’: The internet speeds you should aim for, based on how you use the internetHow to use a Google speed test to check how fast your internet speed is

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A guide to VoIP, the technology that lets you make voice calls over the internet

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VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a type of internet-connected phone system.

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  • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a system for transmitting voice calls over the internet.
  • IP phones use an internet connection rather than phone lines for transmission, but otherwise work the same as traditional phones, including using area codes and phone numbers.
  • VoIP can be substantially less expensive and more secure than traditional landline phones.
  • Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

VoIP is shorthand for a telecommunication technology called Voice over Internet Protocol, and it’s a modern alternative to traditional phones. For a century or so, landline telephone systems have carried voice data over a network called the public switched telephone network (PTSN). VoIP, on the other hand, allows voice calls to be transmitted over the internet. Your VoIP phone is simply a node on the internet with an IP address, much like your desktop computer.

Although VoIP phones work over the internet, they behave almost exactly the same as traditional landline phones – they use area codes and phone numbers, not usernames or passcodes.

It’s also worth noting that even though your smartphone is an internet device and uses the cellular network to connect to the internet, phone calls you make with your voice plan are not VoIP – instead, cellular calls are transmitted using the voice cellular network. This is why most plans track voice and internet data usage separately.

How VoIP works

To use Voice over IP, you generally need a dedicated VoIP desktop phone (usually called an IP phone) which, instead of plugging into a phone jack, connects to the internet – usually by plugging into an internet router with an Ethernet cable or another form of high-speed internet connection.

To enable the phone, you need to subscribe to a service plan with a VoIP service provider. Generally, businesses have VoIP accounts which are substantially less expensive than traditional landline phone plans.

woman using landline phone in office
VoIP phones can be used in office spaces in place of landlines.

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When you dial a phone number using a VoIP phone, the phone sends packets of data to the internet, which is transmitted much like any other kind of internet data. The VoIP service provider sends the data from your phone to the phone that was dialed, where the data arrived and is turned back into audio information.

What is Wi-Fi calling? Everything you need to know about making calls using Wi-Fi instead of a cellular connectionHow to enable and use Wi-Fi calling on your Android or iPhone to make calls without cellular serviceHow to boost your internet speed at home in 8 ways, and make sure you’re not being overcharged for low speedsA guide to fiber optics, and how fiber-optic networks are improving data transfer

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What is an Ethernet cable? Here’s how to connect to the internet without Wi-Fi and get a speedier connection

ethernet cable being plugged into internet router
Ethernet cables, which connect your devices directly to your internet router, can speed up your connection.

Professor25/Getty Images

  • An Ethernet cable lets you physically connect your computer to the internet.
  • Ethernet connections are almost always faster than Wi-Fi connections, and are usually more stable.
  • You’ll need to connect one end of the Ethernet cable to your router, and the other to your computer.
  • Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

The majority of users access the internet using wireless devices, like phones or laptops. These devices connect to the internet using Wi-Fi, wireless signals that broadcast throughout your house.

But if you’ve been using the internet for a while – or you have a desktop computer that you don’t use Wi-Fi for – you’ll probably be using an Ethernet cable instead. Ethernet cables are wires that physically connect your computer to a router or modem.

Ethernet cables can seem clunky or restricting, but they can substantially improve the speed and stability of your internet.

Here’s what you need to know about Ethernet cables, how they work, and what makes them a handy alternative to Wi-Fi.

An Ethernet cable ‘hardwires’ your computer to an internet connection

An Ethernet cable, sometimes referred to as a network cable, is a cord that runs from a router, modem, or network switch to your computer, giving your device access to the local area network (LAN) – in other words, giving it internet access.

 

The benefit of hardwiring your internet connection is that it’s faster and more consistent. Without walls or other objects blocking your Wi-Fi signals, you don’t have to worry about sudden drops in internet speed.

Gaming with an Ethernet cable means less lag and faster loading times for multiplayer games. And every major game console can connect with an Ethernet port – although to connect a Nintendo Switch, you’ll need an adapter.

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Ethernet cables come in sizes as long or short as you’d need.

Emma Witman/Insider

Just be careful not to unplug your cable while you’re using it, as doing so will disconnect you from the internet instantly. Luckily, Ethernet cables are made to snap snugly into place, so it’s hard to pull them out accidentally.

Ethernet cables come in a range of lengths and colors, but both sides of the cord are the same, regardless of the brand of cable or device you’re hardwiring.

Amazon ethernet cable
Ethernet cables are double-sided.

Amazon

Ethernet accessories can help you connect any device

Although newer, slender models of laptops don’t tend to have Ethernet ports, you can still utilize an Ethernet cable with a USB or USB-C adapter.

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Ethernet adapters can convert to USB, seen here, or USB-C.

Emma Witman/Insider

Another common accessory to pair with an Ethernet cable is a network switch. This add-on lets you convert an Ethernet connection into multiple ones, allowing you to, for instance, hardwire both your Xbox and Chromecast to the internet at the same time.

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A network switch, which connects to the router via Ethernet, allows multiple devices to be hardwired to the internet at once.

Emma Witman/Insider

How to tell if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi and how to stop themWhat is mesh Wi-Fi? Here’s what you need to know about the system that extends your Wi-Fi network‘What is a good internet speed?’: The internet speeds you should aim for, based on how you use the internetHow to boost your internet speed at home in 8 ways, and make sure you’re not being overcharged for low speeds

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Is Ethernet faster than Wi-Fi? Yes, and a hardwired connection offers other benefits as well

couple unpacking hooking up internet ethernet cable
Though they can be less convenient, Ethernet cables are typically much faster than Wi-Fi.

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  • Ethernet is typically faster than a Wi-Fi connection, and it offers other advantages as well. 
  • A hardwired Ethernet cable connection is more secure and stable than Wi-Fi.
  • You can test your computer’s speeds on Wi-Fi versus an Ethernet connection easily.
  • Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

The advent of Wi-Fi was a great thing. It has granted easier internet access in harder-to-reach areas, made connecting new devices a breeze – and not to mention, reduced the amount of cables on our floors.

However, if you’re looking for the fastest and most consistent connection possible, you should still stick with an Ethernet cable. It’s less convenient, but boasts all sorts of advantages.

Ethernet is almost always faster than Wi-Fi

If you want a fast connection, you should consider connecting as many of your devices as possible to Ethernet. This is because Ethernet is nearly always faster than a Wi-Fi connection from the same router.

It’s true that radio waves are incredibly fast. But an Ethernet cable lets your devices send and receive data almost instantaneously. This is especially true if you have a fiber-optic connection.

This also means that it doesn’t matter how close or far you are from your router. As long as your Ethernet cable reaches, you’ll see little to no loss in speed.

You can compare Wi-Fi and Ethernet speeds by running a quick speed test using both connections. You’ll almost certainly find the Ethernet connection to be faster.

speed tes
According to testmy.net, internet download speed is almost doubled on this device when using an Ethernet cable, at 310.2 Mbps, compared to 164 Mbps without.

Emma Witman/Insider

Our own quick test showed an Ethernet download speed almost double that of Wi-Fi.

Ethernet is more stable than a Wi-Fi signal

To use an analogy, an Ethernet cable is to Wi-Fi what a landline is to a cell phone. Rather than transmitting the signal wirelessly, an Ethernet cable carries your data via a cable electronically.

ethernet cable connected to laptop internet
Some laptops have an Ethernet port built in, while others – especially Macs – require a special adapter.

Chalongrat Chuvaree / EyeEm/Getty Images

In short, this means that the data is less likely to get lost or degrade along the way. You also don’t have to worry about the signal being blocked or slowed down by nearby electronics or barriers.

Unless your Ethernet cable physically breaks, there’s not much that can disrupt it, short of a power outage. 

Ethernet connections are likely more secure than Wi-Fi

Although a clever Wi-Fi network name like “FBI Surveillance Van” might dissuade some neighbors from trying to hack your network, you’re still more secure with an Ethernet connection.

Any Wi-Fi password can be hacked with enough effort, and since Wi-Fi signals pass through the open air, they can be intercepted. But to gain access to an Ethernet connection, you need to have the cable and the router. There’s no way to hack into Ethernet without a physical connection.

‘Why isn’t my internet working?’: How to identify why you can’t connect to the internet and troubleshoot accordinglyHow to boost your internet speed at home in 8 ways, and make sure you’re not being overcharged for low speeds‘What is a good internet speed?’: The internet speeds you should aim for, based on how you use the internetWhat is mesh Wi-Fi? Here’s what you need to know about the system that extends your Wi-Fi network

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What is a DNS server? How Domain Name System servers connect you to the internet

woman relaxing at home surfing the web on laptop
A DNS server helps your web browser connect to websites.

Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images

  • A DNS server – short for Domain Name System server – converts web addresses into IP addresses. 
  • Without a DNS server, you won’t be able to connect to any websites.
  • If you’re having issues with your default DNS server, you can change it.
  • Visit Insider’s Tech Reference library for more stories.

A Domain Name System (DNS) server is a fundamental part of the backbone of the internet – without it, it would be impossible to use a web browser to find websites.

You can think of the DNS server as a phone book. When you ask your computer to load a website, the DNS server matches the website’s name with the right IP address. This lets your computer find and load it properly.

How does a DNS server work?

When you enter a URL, what you’re really doing is asking your computer to find and connect to another IP address. To do this, it uses a set of related servers, all of which form the DNS server:

  • The DNS recursive resolver
  • The root nameservers
  • The TLD nameservers
  • The authoritative nameservers

Here’s how it works.

All this happens in a matter of seconds – if your internet is very fast, or you’ve visited the website recently (see below for more information), it can happen in milliseconds.

Caching can avoid calling the DNS server

If you’re visiting a new website, your browser will go through the entire process outlined above. But if it did this for every single website, things could get slow – that’s why websites you’ve visited recently are stored in your web browser’s cache.

When you try to load a website, the DNS server will first check your cache to see if the IP address is already saved there. If it is, it’ll retrieve the IP address directly from the cache, which saves time. 

What is a cache 2
Every browser has a cache, which stores files and images.

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Each entry in the cache has a time limit associated with it, referred to as the TTL (time-to-live). The TTL for any IP address is generally about 48 hours, and once that passes, the IP address will disappear from your cache. This means that the DNS server will have to go through the whole recursive search process again.

Changing your DNS server

As a general rule, your web browser uses a standard, public DNS server, usually configured and maintained by your internet service provider.

Some advanced users manually change their DNS server, though. This can boost your internet speed and protect your privacy.

Changing your DNS can be done via your computer’s “Network” menu, in the Settings app. If you’re looking for a new DNS, you can try the Google Public DNS or any number of other custom DNS servers.

Google Public DNS
Google operates its own DNS server, which you can connect your computer to for free.

Google

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

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California’s net-neutrality rules clear major hurdle as Biden’s DOJ abandons its efforts to block them

GettyImages 974049450 An internet speed test website is seen on a mobile device in this photo illustration on June 11, 2018 in Warsaw, Poland. With the American Federal Communications Commission having repealed law's that protect consumers from companies themselves determining internet speeds, the so called net neutrality rules fears arise that the internet will more and more resembel cable TV where a handful of big companies dominate broadcasting. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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  • The DOJ dropped its legal challenge to California’s net-neutrality rules on Monday.
  • California lawmakers passed the rules in 2018 after Trump’s FCC overturned Obama-era rules.
  • This is a reversal from the Trump administration’s fight against popular net-neutrality policies.
  • Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.

The Department of Justice has dropped its legal challenge to California’s net-neutrality rules, the agency said in a court filing on Monday.

The move clears a major hurdle that had prevented the state’s rules from going into effect, and represents a significant departure from the Trump administration’s approach to internet policy.

After the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission voted in 2017 to repeal widely popular Obama-era net-neutrality protections at the federal level, California lawmakers passed a law the following year that aimed to restore some of those protections within its own borders.

But the Trump administration challenged California’s rules, as did internet providers including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and Charter Communications (their legal challenge is pending, and a hearing is scheduled for February 23).

Read more: Everything you need to know about California’s tough net neutrality bill

The Biden administration’s decision to abandon the fight against net neutrality, which comes on the heels of President Joe Biden’s nomination of acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel, signals it may take a tougher approach to companies that provide Americans with internet access.

“I am pleased that the Department of Justice has withdrawn this lawsuit,” Rosenworcel said in a press release.

“When the FCC, over my objection, rolled back its net-neutrality policies, states like California sought to fill the void with their own laws. By taking this step, Washington is listening to the American people, who overwhelmingly support an open internet, and is charting a course to once again make net neutrality the law of the land,” she said.

Public opinion polls have consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Americans – including both Republicans and Democrats – support net neutrality, a policy that prevents internet providers like AT&T and Comcast from “throttling” customers’ internet speeds or forcing certain websites to pay more for “fast lanes.”

In addition to fighting net neutrality, the Trump administration mostly deregulated the industry. Under former FCC chair Ajit Pai’s leadership, the agency faced criticism for being overly friendly toward the companies under its purview, doing little to improve Americans’ internet speeds or ability to access the internet in the first place.

Despite industry arguments that deregulation promotes innovation and cost savings that benefit consumers, the US recently fell out of the top 10 countries for internet speeds globally, according to a report from DecisionData.org, and Americans still pay far more for that service.

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Comcast to launch 29 WiFi hotspots for low-income students in the Washington, DC metro area

Comcast logo
Comcast says it plans to launch 1,000 Lift Zones in coming years.

Comcast

  • Comcast announced plans Monday to establish 29 WiFi-equipped “Lift Zones” in the Washington, DC metro area. 
  • The project aims to provide low-income students with internet access through participating community centers. 
  • COVID-19 has highlighted the disparity in internet access in the US as it forced schooling online. 
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Comcast will roll out 29 of its WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” in Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Virginia over the next several weeks, the company announced Monday. 

The aim of the project is to provide free internet access to low-income families so they can more easily attend virtual schooling, look for jobs, access online resources, and participate in the digital economy, Comcast said.

The internet provider plans to set up 15 of the the internet-connected zones in Baltimore, 13 in Washington, DC, and one in Virginia. Comcast Lift Zones will provide free WiFi at participating nonprofit organizations, including community centers, churches, and Boys and Girls Clubs. 

“We are proud to partner with community organizations across the Baltimore and D.C. metro areas and equip them with fast WiFi service to provide kids with safe and reliable connectivity to learn, keep up with school and expand their educational opportunities,” Misty Allen, Vice President of Government Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region, said in a statement.

“We believe that these Lift Zones will provide another choice and make it convenient for students and families to connect at a trusted local nonprofit location.”

Read more: Fintech valuations are soaring at the late stage, and one Silicon Valley VC is warning of a bubble

The COVID-19 pandemic forced state and local governments to suspend in-person learning in favor of virtual alternatives, highlighting the lack of equitable internet access across the country.

A 2020 study from Common Sense, an education-focused nonprofit, found that between 15 million and 16 million US students lack adequate internet access for remote learning, and 9 million of those students also lack the necessary devices. 

In New York City, a class-action lawsuit seeking to make the city provide WiFi in homeless shelters is moving to a trial. In a ruling earlier this month moving the suit to an expedited discovery, US District Judge Alison Nathan wrote: “Without internet connectivity, homeless students are deprived of the means to attend classes.” She added, “And because homeless children who lack internet access and reside in New York City shelters cannot attend school for as long as that deprivation exists, the City bears a duty, under the statute, to furnish them with the means necessary for them to attend school.”

Comcast has said it plans to launch more than 1,000 Lift Zones in coming years to help address this disparity in internet access. The company also runs an “Internet Essentials Partnership Program” which has partnered with cities, school districts, and community organizations to equip more than 4 million students with internet access at home. 

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Biden appoints FTC and FCC acting directors in move that signals a more aggressive approach to regulating big tech

slaugher ftc rosenworcel fcc
FTC acting director Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and FCC acting director Jessica Rosenworcel.

Leah Millis/Reuters; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

  • Biden picked Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FTC and FCC directors.
  • The two Democrats have been more aggressive regulating big tech in the past than Trump’s appointees.
  • They also favor many of Biden’s stances on issues like internet access, net neutrality, and privacy.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

President Joe Biden made two key agency appointments on Thursday that offer an early window into how his administration could approach regulating the tech and telecom industries.

Biden selected Democrat Rebecca Kelly Slaughter as acting director of the Federal Trade Commission and Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel as acting director of the Federal Communications Commission.

Slaughter began her term at the FTC in May 2018, after being nominated by President Donald Trump. Rosenworcel was first nominated to serve on the FCC by President Barack Obama in 2012, and is the longest-serving Democratic commissioner at the agency.

The appointments signal that Biden’s administration will likely continue to get tougher on regulating tech and telecom companies, building on the Trump administration’s mix of increasing antitrust enforcement, attempts to roll back Section 230’s legal protections for internet companies, and laissez-faire approach to telecom regulations.

The outgoing FTC Chairman Joe Simons, a Trump appointee, had begun to ramp up the agency’s antitrust and consumer privacy work, opening several landmark investigations into Facebook, Amazon, Google, and even started looking at past mergers and acquisitions by big tech.

Slaughter has supported the FTC’s increasingly hard line on antitrust issues as well as privacy, but she has also argued the agency should have taken action earlier and issued harsher penalties more likely to deter companies from future law-breaking, including holding executives personally liable for their companies’ privacy violations.

Slaugher has also said that the FTC’s enforcement efforts should be “anti-racist” through ensuring markets aren’t racially discriminatory and protecting consumers from algorithmic bias.

Rosenworcel’s appointment to the FCC, however, marks an even greater departure from her predecessor, the outgoing Chairman Ajit Pai.

A former Verizon lawyer, Pai drew criticism for being overly friendly toward the companies under his agency’s purview, opposing overwhelmingly popular net neutrality rules, and doing little to improve Americans’ internet speeds or ability to access the internet in the first place.

Rosenworcel has pushed for the FCC to use its authority and resources to expand internet access, particularly to students whose lack of home internet has prevented them from keeping up in school while participating in remote learning during the pandemic – the so-called “homework gap.” She has also voiced support for net neutrality in the past, and will likely face pressure to reinstate the policy.

Slaughter and Rosenworcel will likely play a key role in any efforts to modify Section 230, which some Democrats say lets tech companies off the hook for not doing enough to disincentivize hate speech, harassment, and violence on their platforms.

The appointments aren’t final, as Biden will still need to decide whether to nominate Slaughter and Rosenworcel as permanent chairs. They will also likely face delays implementing their more ambitious plans until Biden nominates additional commissioners to break the current 2-2 split between Democrats and Republicans at both agencies.

Both the FTC and FCC are led by as many as five commissioners, appointed by the president, and neither is allowed to have more than three members of one party. Biden’s appointments will need to be confirmed by the Senate, a likely prospect as Vice President Kamala Harris could break any tie between the evenly divided upper chamber.

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Congress approves $7 billion for aid on internet bills and efforts to close the digital divide, as part of the larger COVID-19 stimulus package

student loan forbearance
The spending allocates $3 billion for monthly rebates on internet bills.

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  • Congress on Monday approved $7 billion in aid to help lower-income Americans get internet access.
  • The bill would allocate rebates of up to $75 a month to help certain low-income Americans pay their internet bills. 
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified concerns about the digital divide between Americans with and without high-speed internet access.
  • Americans are increasingly reliant on the internet, but more than half of low-income Americans worry about their ability to pay broadband bills, a Pew Research Center poll found. 
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Congress approved $7 billion in aid on Monday to help lower-income Americans get access to the internet. The spending, which is part of the larger $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package, would help low-income Americans pay their monthly internet bills and would invest in extending internet access to remote areas of the country, according to the Washington Post. 

The plan allocates about $3 billion for monthly rebates on internet bills, providing up to $50 per month for low-income families. Households on Indian reservations can qualify for up to $75 a month. The bill will also focus on longer term efforts to support internet access, such as allocating funding to determine which regions lack access to high speed internet and improving infrastructure, the Post reported.  

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would be in charge of carrying out the program, the Washington Post reported. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified concerns about the digital divide between Americans with broadband access and those without.  Americans are increasingly reliant on the Internet for access to basic needs, as doctors appointments become tele-visits, work goes remote, and students of all ages attend classes via video platforms. But the economic downturn associated with COVID-19 has made paying internet bills harder than ever. 

Some 28% of broadband users said that they are worried about being able to pay their internet bills, and 30% of smartphone users said they were concerned about being able to pay their cell phone bills, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted in April. And the problem is even more intense for lower income Americans: more than half said they were worried about being able to pay cellular and broadband bills.

Read more: Unequal access to high-speed internet could be the biggest obstacle to getting the American economy back on track

The aid is comes as part of the larger $900 billion stimulus package passed by Congress on Monday. The package includes $600 direct payments, a $300 boost in unemployment benefits, and a $15 billion bailout for airlines, among other spending.

The legislation has been the subject of months of negotiations and now awaits a sign-off from President Trump. However, the president called the bill a “disgrace” on Wednesday, deeming $600 direct payments insufficient. 

Read the full report from the Washington Post here. 

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