From access to quality: the new digital divide

With Pew reporting ~97% of U.S. adults use the internet in 2026 (N=5,511, Jan–Jun 2026), the measurable policy gap is no longer 'who is online' but 'who has reliable, high‑quality connections, devices, and digital skills.' This reframes digital‑inclusion debates toward speed, affordability, device capability, and platform exposure rather than simple subscription counts. — If access is near universal, policy and public debate should shift from expanding basic connectivity to fixing gaps in connection quality, device competence, affordability, and platform harms that now drive inequality.