WASHINGTON, DC – The importance of broadband Internet access to participation in the American economy and strategies for connecting the underserved were discussed Monday at a forum held by Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and Comcast Corporation in Washington, DC.

At the event, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, emphasized the growing necessity of broadband as the United States shifts to a digital economy. While most American families report having broadband at home, many low-income families who lack Internet access are in danger of falling even further behind, both economically and socially.

“It is critical to our economy and to our global competitiveness that all Americans can adopt high-speed Internet at home,” said Chairman Genachowski.  “Thanks to the Joint Center’s valuable research, we have a better understanding of how to close the digital divide.  And thanks to efforts like Internet Essentials and Connect2Compete, hundreds of thousands of Americans can now take advantage of the benefits of home broadband for the first time, with many more to come.  That’s good news for these Americans and good news for our country.”

Download the full press release below.