Alice Tyree
By Alice Tyree
District 7 Equity Program Manager
On Oct. 12, District 7 launched its first learning table discussion around digital equity. I spearhead the Digital Equity Initiative and it is supported by Acting District Director Gloria Roberts and the leadership team. Bridging the digital gap is urgent, but the means to address this issue is within reach through the Broadband Middle Mile Network.
Tens of millions of American households cannot access the digital economy due to physical gaps in local broadband networks, unaffordable subscription plans and personal devices, and a lack of digital literacy. The inequity of high-speed broadband access makes telemedicine, education, telework and e-commerce impossible to attain. Disadvantaged communities often pay more than their neighbors in high income areas. Digital equity aims to address these structural barriers and ensure that digital economy reaches all local households.
Working collaboratively with other agencies and regional stakeholders to establish clear goals, co-design solutions, measure progress, and create interventions to directly benefit those who have struggled the most to digitally compete is my goal as equity officer. Broadband has become essential infrastructure for the 21st century. Just as entire industries and personal activities developed around electricity in the 20th century, the same level of economic and social transformation is underway using digital services today. Schools, offices, retail stores, and governments all rely on online platforms, offering people significant time savings and new ways to prosper.
Broadband is still far from a universal service in California. Most households did not have a broadband internet subscription in 2018. The gaps are especially pronounced for Black and Latino or Hispanic households. Substantial gaps are also based on income and educational attainment. Broadband inequities have been cast into sharper relief, The challenge facing state and local governments is how to address these digital inequities. To that effect, it is important to amplify it takes a collective effort to address the root cause of digital inequities.
If you missed the Digital Equity Learning Table, click here.