In much of the United States, the digital divide separates some city-dwellers with access to fast and reliable internet service from rural communities that lack it. In Californiaâs major cities, the gulf yawns between people who can afford modern internet access and those who are stuck cobbling together cell-plan data, friendsâ subscriptions and patchy public internet. Living in California today requires internet access for everything â attending school, working from home and accessing financial services and medical care. Essential services and commercial conveniences were already transitioning online and the pandemic has only accelerated ongoing trends. To avoid being left behind by these changes, Californians need access to the internetâs physical infrastructure and the ability to afford a fast and reliable internet plan. Availability â the presence of a physical wired connection â is simple to measure and explain, which is why policy arguments around broadband tend to focus efforts there.