Opinion: Here’s how we end the digital divide By Angela Siefer The COVID-19 pandemic dispelled any doubt about the importance of broadband in the quest for equity in the digital age. The federal government is now rethinking its entire approach to universal broadband access and use — and it’s about time. A whopping 27% of Americans report not subscribing to home broadband. Texas isn't faring much better: According to the Census Bureau, 19% of households across the state do not have a home broadband subscription. While the challenge of the availability of internet service in rural areas is real and urgent, our nation’s digital divide is also driven by huge disparities in broadband adoption.