As we come up on the second anniversary of the pandemic, it is time to look back at what the profession looks like now. For many, working from home is no longer a novelty, and will not be for some time to come. But the bigger issue, not only for attorneys but also for our clients is connecting to the courts and access to justice. While many people take for granted having 5G cell service and broadband connections everywhere, for many in rural and even suburban communities, it is not a given that you can connect easily and quickly. Dropped calls, spotty coverage, and a lack of providers in these areas leave those with few options to connect to the larger world.

In NYSBA's Task Force on Rural Justice, the 2020 report (drafted prior to COVID-19) stated a number of shortfalls in the telecommunications infrastructure within New York state. These shortcomings spoke to a large gap in the ability for practitioners and clients to communicate with each other and the court system, an issue that became horribly magnified in the light of court shutdowns and virtual appearances. There have been efforts made during the pandemic by the federal government to connect those left behind due to low income, and the Build Back Better bill currently mired in Congress includes $1 billion in broadband efforts, much of which is earmarked to help with distance learning and subsidizing communications affordability programs.