Vernonburg Group Launches First-Ever Digital Opportunity Index to Benchmark ISP Efforts in Expanding Broadband Availability and Adoption
The new Index shines a light on how ISPs can continue to drive economic development by expanding access to high-speed broadband and promoting its adoption.
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 28, 2025 — Today, Vernonburg Group launched the Digital Opportunity Index, the first benchmark of its kind, designed to evaluate how Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are addressing broadband availability and adoption.
Despite decades of investment and innovation, tens of millions of U.S. households remain unconnected—especially in rural, low-income, and Tribal areas. Vernonburg Group developed the Digital Opportunity Index to fill a critical gap: the absence of objective tools that assess, encourage, and reward intentional and transparent efforts by ISPs to close the digital divide.
The Index scores 15 publicly traded ISPs in the U.S. based on five indicators (with 14 sub-indicators): broadband availability in rural, low-income, and Tribal areas; affordability and quality of low-cost plans; digital skilling resources; community outreach and accessibility; and support for affordable devices. All metrics are based on publicly available data, emphasizing objectivity, transparency, and accountability. No ISP evaluated received a perfect score, but because these indicators are directly tied to the companies’ core business functions, the ISPs have the power to improve their scores.
While broadband is a foundational enabler of economic and civic life, it has long been overlooked in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. The Digital Opportunity Index represents a pragmatic evolution of ESG—focusing specifically on broadband availability and adoption, two areas vital to comprehensive growth and digital advancement.
Paul Garnett, CEO and Founder of Vernonburg Group, stated: “High-speed Internet is foundational for economic and social progress. The Digital Opportunity Index offers a clear, measurable approach to understanding where ISPs are stepping up in expanding broadband availability and adoption—and where more work is needed.”
He added, “the Digital Opportunity Index is a tool for action. ISPs can use their scores to benchmark and improve their performance, investors can direct capital toward those driving real-world progress, and policymakers will have a clearer, more comprehensive picture of ISPs’ progress on broadband availability and adoption. It’s about aligning business performance with broadband expansion and adoption.”
In addition, he commented that “the Vernonburg Group Digital Opportunity Index is designed to accommodate a range of perspectives on ESG investing. While some investors will use the Vernonburg Group Digital Opportunity Index as an alternative to existing ESG rating systems they see as misaligned with the US publicly traded broadband providers' business priorities, others will use the Vernonburg Group Digital Opportunity Index as a complement that further strengthens the mainstream ESG rating systems.”
Vernonburg Group hopes that the Index and its accompanying publication will inform meaningful investment decisions and policy design, and support ISPs as they continue to prioritize actions that expand digital opportunity for all.
Download the full report at https://www.vernonburggroup.com/publications/the-digital-opportunity-index.
About Vernonburg Group
Vernonburg Group envisions a world with meaningful internet connectivity for every person and community worldwide. We help governments, companies, and other organizations bring meaningful internet connectivity to communities around the world by developing strategies and supportive policy frameworks, forging partnerships, mobilizing capital, and providing actionable data-driven insights.
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