Social distancing is accelerating the trend of Americans moving their social and professional lives online.<br />But according to Business Insider, a huge swathe of the population is being left out.<br />As many as 160 million Americans — mostly in rural areas — don't have access to high-speed internet.<br />The FCC estimates that 25 million people live in areas with no high-speed internet service providers. 19 million of these are in rural America.<br />Six separate, independent studies have shown the availability of broadband internet directly affects jobs and GDP growth.<br />And as unemployment claims reach record highs, Americans' unequal access to high-speed internet could slow recovery.
