Barriers to Broadband Access
![An up close picture of fiber optics network cables.](https://robertsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RobertFSmith_AddressingDigitalDivide.jpg)
As the necessity for reliable, high-speed internet grows, accessibility gaps persist in low-income neighborhoods, rural areas and communities of color. Among Black and Latino Americans, 77% reported having access to the internet in 2021 compared with 82% of White Americans, according to a 2022 survey from the U.S. Commerce Department. Income disparities remain stark, with […]
We need a fintech revolution to help underserved communities recover
![Laptop displaying business metrics](https://robertsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RFSblogstoryphoto5.jpg)
![Laptop displaying business metrics](https://robertsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/RFSblogstoryphoto5.jpg)
After the coronavirus hit, Minneapolis small-business owner Rosemary Ugboajah applied for a small business relief loan. She first applied with her local credit union, but they didn’t have the tools to process these relief loans. After reaching out to other banks, she found one able to help her apply, but the stimulus money was running […]