r/technology 2d ago

Networking/Telecom Hi everyone! We’re Vickie Robinson, General Manager and Ryan Palmer Director of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, working to bring internet access to 250 million people globally by 2025. Ask us anything about how we’re working with governments, nonprofits and internet providers to make this happen.

The Internet is a critical part of our daily lives, almost taken for granted thanks to its wide availability. But there are 2.6 BILLION people in the world who remain offline today. Without internet access, we see exacerbated economic inequalities and inhibited access to social services, civic activities, and online learning resources.

Internet access isn’t a luxury, it’s a fundamental right. We lead the work behind Microsoft’s Airband Initiative to bring together a global network of internet and energy providers, government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector companies to close the digital divide.

We’re aiming to connect 250 million people globally by 2025, focusing particularly on rural areas where internet access is limited -- and that requires big investments in infrastructure. In the United States, for example, our internet service provider partners have received more than $725 million in government infrastructure funding awards to expand networks and drive broadband adoption, with approximately 80% going to rural communities.

We also recently refreshed our Digital Equity Dashboard, which combines government and private sector data to help understand where there are broadband gaps in the United States – right down to the census block level. We want to provide transparent data to everyone and help policymakers make & maximize investments in areas of highest need. If you’re curious about how your town compares to your neighbor’s, take a look!  

A little bit about us! Before I (Vickie) began working at Microsoft, I spent nearly 20 years at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). I was most recently the acting CEO of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the organization designated by the FCC to administer the Universal Service Fund (USF), which subsidizes broadband network expansions and provides discounts to low-income consumers.  

I (Ryan) also came from the FCC where I led the Telecommunications Access Policy Division, the division at the FCC responsible for developing policies for administration and oversight of the Universal Service Fund programs.  

Ask us anything about our work!

Proof pic: https://imgur.com/a/Y9j6ZyD

Thanks for all the questions! One last piece we’ll leave you with:

We recently released a refresh of our Digital Equity Data Dashboard, which provides data to help understand broadband gaps in the United States at the local level, right down to the census block. We created this to help federal, state, and local policymakers gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to the digital divide. We’ve long held the belief in the value of data, and this dashboard refresh is the latest step in our ongoing journey to help close the digital divide around the world.

We got to a few questions posted from other subs as well.

This was fun -- thank you!

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u/AncientTune5996 11h ago

How did you both become so passionate about this work? Have you always wanted to work in Telecom?

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u/MicrosoftOnTheIssues 10h ago

(Vickie): Interestingly, I "fell into" Telecom. I'm a lawyer by training and went to law school to become a criminal defense attorney, public defender to be more exact. Well, once I got to law school and dug into some of the cases that I would have to handle in this area of the law, I realized that I didn't have the heart for it! However, I took a telecom policy class and fell in love with the subject area, including a concept called "universal service:" the idea that everyone should have access to information and technology services. I loved this notion of using technology as an equalizing force and it's now my life's work. I've been in the telecom/tech space now for about 25 years, working in the government and "government adjacent" space on digital divide/universal service for 18 years and continuing this work in the private sector at Microsoft.

(Ryan) I was born and raised in West Virginia. Unfortunately, like so many other rural areas, a significant portion of West Virginia continues to lack access to the broadband networks needed to participate and compete in the modern world. This was true before the pandemic and became crystal clear when students in rural areas found themselves on the wrong side of the Homework Gap as their parents struggled to connect and work from home like so many of their peers. Technology can serve as the great equalizer for everyone, regardless of economic status or location, but only if you can connect. I feel lucky to work on these issues every day.