Senior Planet hosts Thomas Kamber panel

Broadband Breakfast’s live online panel on April 29 put older Americans at the center of the broadband debate, with Thomas Kamber and Debra Berlyn discussing why many seniors still remain offline. (broadbandbreakfast.com) The panel was billed as “Older Adults Connectivity” and moderated by Broadband Breakfast chief executive and publisher Drew Clark. Kamber joined as executive director of Older Adults Technology Services, or OATS, and Berlyn joined from the Project to Get Older Adults onLine, known as Project GOAL. (broadbandbreakfast.com) Broadband Breakfast said the discussion would examine barriers that keep seniors offline, including affordability, device access, digital literacy, and whether online services feel relevant enough to use. It also set the panel against uncertainty over resources for underserved groups as federal broadband programs keep emphasizing network buildout. (broadbandbreakfast.com) OATS runs Senior Planet, a national nonprofit program from AARP that offers older adults free classes, workshops, and courses on using technology in daily life. Senior Planet says its programs focus on financial security, social engagement, health and wellness, creative expression, and civic participation. (seniorplanet.org) Senior Planet describes Kamber as the founder of OATS, which he launched in 2004 to help older adults learn and use technology. The organization now operates online and in six on-the-ground regions, including New York City, Miami, Denver, San Antonio, Montgomery County, Maryland, and New York’s North Country. (seniorplanet.org 1) (seniorplanet.org 2) The timing reflects a broader policy fight over what counts as closing the digital divide. Building networks is one piece; getting older adults connected, trained, and comfortable using those connections is another. (broadbandbreakfast.com) (ntia.gov) Federal guidance for state digital equity planning identifies aging individuals as a covered population and says older adults may need digital literacy support and accessible technology to keep up with rapid changes in everyday digital life. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration says those efforts can help people age in place, stay connected, and preserve independence. (ntia.gov) The numbers remain stubborn. Benton Institute, citing new OATS research published in October 2025, said 19 million older adults — 32 percent — do not have wireline high-speed service at home, with rural seniors less connected than peers in metro and suburban areas. (benton.org) Pew Research Center’s 2025 broadband fact sheet also shows age gaps persist: adults 65 and older remain less likely than younger adults to have home broadband. That leaves panels like this one focused less on gadgets than on access, trust, cost, and hands-on help. (pewresearch.org) For Senior Planet and its partners, the practical question is what happens after the webcast. Their model is free classes and workshops; Broadband Breakfast’s question on April 29 was how to make sure older Americans are not left behind as more basic services move online. (seniorplanet.org) (broadbandbreakfast.com)