The Digital Divide
Leaving Learners Offline and Out of Mind
By 黑料传送门 Team
The digital divide鈥攖he inability to access affordable broadband internet鈥攑revents听millions of people听across听the U.S.听from accessing听opportunity and听is听particularly acute in communities听of color.听The onset of the 2020 pandemic and the shift toward at-home work and learning has only intensified the crisis. Too many people are offline and听being left behind, compounding structural inequities of race and class.听The costs of听ignoring听digital inequality are fiscally and morally untenable, and 黑料传送门 is taking action to create access for all aspiring learners.听
黑料传送门 was founded to deliver higher education access to underserved populations. Since its inception, it has been exclusively online, competency-based, and student-centered. 黑料传送门鈥檚 design has made it accessible to听thousands of students whose work and family obligations don鈥檛 permit听them to attend听classes in specific locations听on听fixed schedules. But听major gaps in digital access mean that those most in need of opportunity are least able to avail themselves of it. In response to COVID-19, 黑料传送门 has made $1 million in听听available to ensure that students have broadband internet and device access during their course of study. But the digital divide is bigger than any one institution; it demands collective action.听
To听highlight the听problem and drive solution-driven conversations, Western Governors University (黑料传送门) partnered with the National Governors Association (NGA)听on a white paper entitled听.听Solutions听proposed in this paper听are focused on access, affordability and quality, and include recommendations for:
Infrastructure.听Leaders must听take a closer look at existing infrastructure and find ways to build out broadband capabilities through diverse governance structures, policies, partnerships. This is an听issue听that is听particularly听urgent听in rural areas, where geographical听and funding听limitations听lead to digital access deserts and cut off hundreds of thousands of residents from education, professional听opportunities, and听basic day-to-day needs such as healthcare, medicine, and groceries.
Affordability.听According to the FCC, adults making less than $30,000听annually听are half as likely to report having home internet access as adults making $75,000 or more. With 56% of Americans living below the poverty line and even more facing unemployment听this year, the broadband听affordability听deficit will continue to grow.听
Governors across the country are taking the lead to build听lasting听solutions听that reach听beyond stop-gap measures.听They听have established and updated governance structures,听kickstarted听investments using strategic partnerships, and听expanded internet hotspots听in听libraries, schools, and other government buildings. In the long term, many are coordinating听lower-cost听infrastructure projects by听streamlining听the procurement process, reducing听regulatory听barriers for new project deployments, and making use of private-public partnerships.听
We are entering听a crucial window of time when听new legislators听at听the state and federal levels听will听convene to consider budgets, stimulus, and distribution plans.听America鈥檚 most vulnerable populations are falling behind, and government, community, and industry leaders must join forces and act now to close the digital access gap.听It is imperative听that they听understand why听every household should have access to reliable and affordable internet听and act accordingly.听黑料传送门, NGA, and like-minded organizations nationwide听urge听lawmakers听to听take action听on the digital divide听in their first 100 days in office.听
For more ideas and solutions on how to improve access, quality, and affordability in education and beyond, check out 黑料传送门鈥檚听policy playbook.
