The following is an excerpt from CNET:
March 12, 2025 – The broadband industry is constantly evolving. New developments in internet connectivity, from Li-Fi to 5G internet, have changed how we get online over the years. But as far as leadership goes, most authority positions in broadband still belong to men.
Even while male leadership tends to make most of the decisions regarding broadband deployment and policy, notable women have been making strides in digital equity -- often working to contribute to the growing demands of the digital divide with minimal recognition or representation.
“I've been doing work within the realm of what we now call the digital divide for 27 to 28 years -- a long time,” said Angela Siefer, the executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, a nonprofit focused on promoting digital equity.
Other women, like Gigi Sohn or Jessica Rosenworcel, previously held positions at the Federal Communications Commission, where they promoted policies that favored the consumer rather than just the company providing internet service.
In honor of Women’s History Month, I’ve compiled a list (in no particular order) of seven outstanding women in broadband who have contributed to internet accessibility over the years. From government officials to lawyers to leaders of grassroots organizations, these women have made a tangible impact on the internet over decades of work.
3. Gigi Sohn, American Association for Public Broadband
Gigi Sohn is the executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband, an advocacy group for public and community-owned broadband networks. Sohn is a voice for community-owned and operated broadband and played a key role in Bountiful, Utah’s recent launch of an open-access network.
Sohn has over 30 years of experience advocating for consumer-friendly policies. For 12 years, Sohn served as a counselor to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and was the co-founder and former CEO of Public Knowledge, a public interest group focused on digital equity and technology policy.
Full article here.