We?ve known for a long time that access to high-speed internet is helpful in a number of ways, but the issue became particularly pronounced during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when schools and many businesses shut down across the state. Some schools tried to do virtual work with their students. Many businesses allowed employees to work from home and conducted business online. Many health care providers offered telehealth services to their patients. People in parts of the state with limited or no access to broadband internet, however, were at a severe disadvantage.