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About Us Benton Institute For Broadband Society

Bonisiwe Shabane
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about us benton institute for broadband society

The Benton Foundation works to ensure that media and telecommunications serve the public interest and enhance our democracy. We pursue this mission by: 1) seeking policy solutions that support the values of access, diversity and equity; 2) demonstrating the value of media and telecommunications for improving the quality of life for all;... The Benton Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or offer general grants. We are a private operating foundation, an institutional hybrid, bridging the worlds of philanthropy, public policy and community action. We assume diverse, crosscutting roles as nonpartisan knowledge broker, convener, public interest advocate and policy analyst. The Foundation has an endowment of approximately $10 million, the annual income from which is devoted to our own operating projects.

Because of Benton's pioneering work, a number of foundations and corporations have provided additional funding. Celebrating 30 Years With a Focus on the Future Who we are History FAQs Annual Reports Press Room Environmental Policy Diversity Statement Job Openings The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, until 2019 known as the Benton Foundation, is a nonprofit organization set up by former U.S. Senator William Benton and his wife, Helen Hemingway Benton. Their son, Charles Benton, served as chairman and CEO until his death in 2015.[2]

The Benton Foundation was the owner of the Encyclopædia Britannica from 1974 until 1996, when it was bought by Jacqui Safra.[3] The formation of the Benton Foundation was announced at the bicentennial banquet for the Britannica in 1968. The mission of the Foundation was re-vamped somewhat in 1981 by Charles Benton, but it has always focused on using media for the public good, particularly for educational purposes. Since 2001, Benton is home for the US center for OneWorld.net, a global information service, search engine, and network of organizations working for sustainable development and human rights.[4] The foundation has been most famous for its championing of digital access and for demanding public responsibility by mass media. The Benton Foundation has pushed for a national broadband policy at the highest levels of U.S.

government. It has also been pushing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to determine the public interest obligations of digital television broadcasters. Finally, it has sponsored studies that suggest that concentration of media ownership in a few hands is not in the interests of the United States. Today, The American Prospect published some of our original reporting on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law on Independence Day. In it, our Associate Director for Communications Sean Gonsalves writes: "Sold to voters as a way to cut 'waste, fraud, and abuse,' a more honest assessment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is that it’s just a Big Brazen Bid to shred...

Naturally, the looming cuts to Medicaid and what they will mean for rural hospitals in particular has received the most press. But there are numerous other ways those in need of government assistance will be further pressed into poverty, including through a particularly narrow-minded Sophie’s Choice: internet access or food? Last year, GOP leaders blocked bipartisan efforts to fund an extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offered 23 million eligible households a $30-per-month voucher to help pay for internet service. As if letting the ACP die wasn’t a big enough blow, OBBBA not only increases the paperwork burden required to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, it completely removes internet service costs... The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society talks about the impact of policy and broadband adoption… To improve broadband adoption, future growth will have to come from the same population segments that experienced adoption growth upon the pandemic’s onset.

They are the segments where significant connectivity gaps remain—and thus are the most promising for attracting new subscriptions. The takeaways for policymakers and other stakeholders are: Learn About the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act In the absence of federal leadership, state governments are working to ensure that every household can afford to get and stay connected. We engage in long-term planning and provide practical, day-to-day resources to strengthen the public benefits of broadband, protect democratic values, and communicate why it matters. Our articles are curated by Executive Editor Kevin Taglang who has 30 years of experience in this field.

Benton provides the only free, reliable, and non-partisan daily digest that curates and distributes news related to universal broadband, connecting communications, democracy, and the public interest. The daily digest is delivered via email Monday-Friday mornings. Their goal is to bring open, affordable, high-performance broadband to all people in the U.S. to ensure a thriving democracy. Benton believes that communications policy—rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity—has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities. Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us. New Data Raises the Alarm that No Progress May Be the New Normal for the Digital Divide Between new 2024 Census data on broadband adoption and contemporary economic data on flat spending for low-income households, there's little reason for optimism on progress in closing the digital divide. Details Benton Institute for Broadband & Society https://lnkd.in/euN6kXiN What Did the FCC Just Do to California?

FCC Revokes State's Process for Checking Lifeline Eligibility https://lnkd.in/gd_3Rj7r We're just about to start -- Effects and Effectiveness: Evaluation Strategies for Digital Inclusion Programs https://lnkd.in/dp9Gkxbj President Trump is considering an Executive Order that would claw back BEAD funds and preempt state AI laws https://lnkd.in/gmtWZpdW © 2025 Nonprofit Metrics LLCTerms of Service and Privacy Policy We are 90% funded by individual contributions. That means you create the reader-powered journalism that cuts through the noise, and delivers the trusted information Connecticut cares about.

Four years ago, when the Biden administration tasked states with creating plans to drastically expand broadband in the U.S., there was a question of what the call would mean for Connecticut, already one of... Still, early federal maps identified thousands of places that needed help, suggesting there were more than 15,000 places — ranging from households in rural and geographically isolated communities, to small businesses struggling to afford... In the years since, the state has launched a variety of initiatives aimed at improving connections. The ConneCTed Communities Grant Program has provided some $34 million in state grants to help internet service providers build out broadband infrastructure, connecting thousands of locations. Internet providers have also worked to improve service, further reducing the number of households in need. The federal government’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a $42.45 billion initiative launched in 2021 and aimed at providing additional financial support, was intended to help states move even further toward achieving...

William devoted large portions of his income and the income from Encyclopaedia Britannica stock to the support of philanthropic activities, especially those concerned with communications and education. His experience at the University of Chicago had convinced him of the importance of organized research as the essential ingredient in the promotion of a stable future world. His experience in advertising and politics had given him the confidence to commit himself to an educated and enlightened public as the base for modern democracy. Marjorie and Charles’ 62-year partnership was dedicated to public service, civic engagement, and impact philanthropy. Their lifelong commitments and contributions to improving the lives of underserved people and communities—rooted in the Benton Institute’s values of access, equity and diversity—have supported a stronger, more equitable, and more just America. Read More about Marjorie & Charles Benton

For 40 years, the Benton Institute has helped strengthen communities by advancing communications policy in the public interest while providing day-to-day support and resources to the community of people who care about “broadband for... Our work takes the long view to help envision a public interest-focused broadband policy agenda. At the core of our mission is protecting democratic values. That means championing fast, fair, open broadband for all as the infrastructure of opportunity. It means educating people about broadband’s promise to deliver education, healthcare, economic equality, civic engagement and more.

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The Benton Foundation Works To Ensure That Media And Telecommunications

The Benton Foundation works to ensure that media and telecommunications serve the public interest and enhance our democracy. We pursue this mission by: 1) seeking policy solutions that support the values of access, diversity and equity; 2) demonstrating the value of media and telecommunications for improving the quality of life for all;... The Benton Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant ap...

Because Of Benton's Pioneering Work, A Number Of Foundations And

Because of Benton's pioneering work, a number of foundations and corporations have provided additional funding. Celebrating 30 Years With a Focus on the Future Who we are History FAQs Annual Reports Press Room Environmental Policy Diversity Statement Job Openings The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, until 2019 known as the Benton Foundation, is a nonprofit organization set up by former U....

The Benton Foundation Was The Owner Of The Encyclopædia Britannica

The Benton Foundation was the owner of the Encyclopædia Britannica from 1974 until 1996, when it was bought by Jacqui Safra.[3] The formation of the Benton Foundation was announced at the bicentennial banquet for the Britannica in 1968. The mission of the Foundation was re-vamped somewhat in 1981 by Charles Benton, but it has always focused on using media for the public good, particularly for educ...

Government. It Has Also Been Pushing The Federal Communications Commission

government. It has also been pushing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to determine the public interest obligations of digital television broadcasters. Finally, it has sponsored studies that suggest that concentration of media ownership in a few hands is not in the interests of the United States. Today, The American Prospect published some of our original reporting on the One Big Beautif...

Naturally, The Looming Cuts To Medicaid And What They Will

Naturally, the looming cuts to Medicaid and what they will mean for rural hospitals in particular has received the most press. But there are numerous other ways those in need of government assistance will be further pressed into poverty, including through a particularly narrow-minded Sophie’s Choice: internet access or food? Last year, GOP leaders blocked bipartisan efforts to fund an extension of...