The Digital Divide

This article refers to internet access as broadband. It also covers what this broadband needs to work. So, broadband relies on things such as, 1) a digital subscriber line (DSL),  2) cable modem, 3) fiber optic cable, 4) wireless, 5) satellite, and 6) broadband over powerlines. 

Another term associated with the broadband internet access is the private sector. The private sector includes the people that have the luxury to afford being a subscriber to a private service. It isn't public, because if it were public, internet access would be equally accessible to everyone in America at no cost. Now, with broadband being placed throughout America by the private sector, it should not come with a surprise that the rate of the broadband placement is higher in urban/suburban and high-income areas. The rate of the broadband placement is lower in rural and low-income areas. 

This article defines the digital divide as the gap between those who have adequate broadband internet access and those who do not. 

The telecommunications Act of 1996, noted that there is a digital divide and then led the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to plant more equal broadband services to Americans. In addition, there are federal programs under the FCC. such as the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce. Since then, the growth in broadband service has increased very well. It went from 2.8 million in December 1999, to 441 million as of December 2018. As of December 2018, 94.4% of the overall population in america had access to fixed terrestrial broadband. 

However, while broadband availability is at 94.4% in America, this does not mean that everyone had adopted it. In 2019, it is reported that 10% of Americans did not use the internet. Pew Research Center also showed that the population that has lower rates of internet include the people with low income, older people(seniors), the less educated, and rural area households. 

Now remember how I explained what the FCC is earlier? Well, the FCC released a 2020 Broadband Deployment report. Their research has shown that tribal/rural lands still continue to face big obstacles to broadband placement. Their research also shows that many people, particularly the rural (low-income) areas, do not have the luxury of high-speed internet or even access to the more advanced services. 

Next, the FCC adopted in October 2020, a fund to pay for the installment of more broadband accessibility in rural and low-income areas. This is distribute up to $9 billion worth of broadband across the country over 10 years.

COVID-19 gave a good picture on the digital divide. Nearly 125,000 schools in the United States closed their doors, which then gave 55 million teachers and students the responsibility of adapting to distance learning. When parents were surveyed, one in five parents said it was likely their child would not be able to complete their homework due to not having access to a computer at home. Or, their child would have to use public Wi-Fi because there was not a reliable internet connection at home. This gave me a pretty good idea of how big the gap is. 1/5 children may not have reliable internet access. Also, in this context, the Digital Divide is also known as the Homework Gap. 

There is a Low Income Program that was established in March 2016 to provide assistance for only one line per household in the form of a monthly subsidy of $9.25 a month. Approximately $1 billion in funding was disbursed under the Low Income Program in 2019. Lastly from this article, it explains that Congress passed an act called The Heroes Act, to modify or expand a wide range of programs and policies including broadband service. To conclude that, with this progress, there are plenty of programs that low-income families can apply for, but they must fit the qualifications for the program. It is still hard for rural areas with a great distance of land between its' inhabitants, for them to get a company to invest in installing a broadband there. This is why there are still areas with no service, because the companies do not see a way for themselves to turn a profit from the costs they would be putting in to install the device. 

Next, I personally still drive through areas in our country where I have no internet access. This isn't just a who can afford internet issue, but it is also still America's problem of getting broadband internet deployed in rural areas. I have noticed when I do not have internet, it is only a rural area. For the sake of people's safety, I hope one day that there will be nowhere on the roads that does not have internet access. It is beyond infuriating when you are on the road, trying to get work done and you lose service. That is a digital divide that can apply to everyone, if they travel and pass through rural areas. At that moment, it isn't just affecting the people that live there, but it is affecting everyone who drives through. Lastly, I say for the sake of people's safety, if someone were to get into an accident and have no internet connectivity, it is very possible that is going to be a person stranded for a while, if they survive the ordeal. America still needs to do better. However, as I stated earlier, the FCC has a $9 billion project for increasing broadband access across the country. I predict that perhaps, throughout the next 10 years, we may begin to see that we will not lose internet connectivity as often we drive through the highways and small roads in the rural areas. Perhaps in 10 years, we will never lose internet connectivity. 

Sources

  Digital Divide: What Is It, Where Is It, and Federal Assistance Programs (R46613). (2021). https://fsu-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01FALSC_FSU/pag4dr/alma99383174272406576