For formerly redlined communities and low-income households; access to high-speed internet is often considered a luxury because putting food on the table and paying rent on time comes first. But, access to the internet is now a basic necessity. Far too often, there are news stories of school buses acting as routers providing internet access to disconnected communities or students resorting to ordering the cheapest items off McDonald’s menus just to access the restaurant internet. 

In today’s digital economy – internet access is a lifeline to education, communication, healthcare, and employment – all factors that can generate prosperity and upward social mobility. For communities of color that face systemic discrimination, disinvestment, and are disproportionately considered low-income, access is an essential equity tool. But millions of low-income Californians cannot afford high-speed or even average internet. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that low-cost plans designed for low-income families provide inadequate connection.

As a Communications Summer Associate with The Greenlining Institute, I have the opportunity to explore the intersections of digital and tech equity with my passion for communications. In the current world, access to communications, news, data, and education revolves around digital access – a necessity that only becomes more relevant as the world continues to digitize. Through a deep dive interview with The Greenlining Institute’s tech equity experts Vinhcent Le, and Caroline Siegel-Singh, I was introduced to community based digital equity initiatives and explored how they can be scaled to state and federal levels.

The digital divide is a nationwide epidemic that has earned the attention of the Federal government. In 2022, the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program provided $60 million nationwide, and the state of California nearly $9 million to “promote the achievement of digital equity, support digital inclusion activities, and build capacity for broadband.” And this June, the Biden-Harris administration announced over $40 billion in investments nationwide in an effort to connect all Americans to affordable and reliable high-speed internet. 

Identifying Digital Equity Issues in Communities

In light of the grants and funding being allocated towards achieving digital equity, it is crucial for advocates and policymakers to understand the plight of disconnected communities. In recent studies, it was found that the average plan in America provided 99.3 Mbps in 2021. These same studies predict that average users will need internet speeds of 150 Mbps by 2025. However, the majority of low-income internet plans only provide users with 10-15 Mbps. So how does this speed disparity play out in real life?

When Greenlining’s Senior Legal Counsel of Tech Equity, Vinhcent Le, looked into these programs, he found that only 58% of surveyed households with an annual income of $20,000 or less have home internet), and low-cost plans are unpopular among qualified households. Of those qualified for low-cost plans, only 55% chose to subscribe.

In On the Wrong Side of the Digital Divide, testimonies from Oakland users illuminated how extremely slow internet speeds interfere with their ability to make a better life for themselves. Many stated that homework assignments would not load and submit, and the discounted plans provided internet that is too slow for their children to succeed academically. Interviewees who were students ended up having to choose between staying late at libraries, traveling to a friend’s house, or struggling through working on their phones in order to meet homework deadlines. 

For communities of color and low-income families already struggling to afford necessities such as food and housing, being digitally connected to education should not be an additional financial burden—especially when a quality education is one of the best pathways to improving their economic circumstances.

Investing into Community Based Organizations

Issues with low-cost internet plans expand beyond just significantly slower internet speeds.  Many of these plans are poorly marketed in under connected neighborhoods creating a lack of awareness in communities that would benefit from this service. This is further compounded when you factor in language, literacy, and age barriers. 

For example, Lifeline, a program instituted by the Federal Communications Commission to provide discounted phone service to low-income families, struggled with marketing and outreach to communities. Because the program operated in communities where safety is already a large concern for residents, the method of distributing phones behind booths on the street with a banner showing “Free Phones” was not viewed as credible. Handing out inexpensive Android phones with an affordable, but limited plan was described by residents as “demanding”, “not really appealing”, “questionable”, and “bootleg.” Further, surveys conducted by The Greenlining Institute show the majority of community members that would benefit from digital inclusion programs like Lifeline, are not aware of them. In Oakland, 60.1% of respondents stated they were not aware of Lifeline or similar programs providing affordable internet such as the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Here, the need for and impact of community based organizations shines. Through programs such as Oakland’s Townlink Program, Greenlining helps fund CBOs working on the frontlines in their respective communities to break through generational digital barriers and poor marketing practices.

Establishing Multi-Sector Coalitions: The Keys to Expanding Digital Equity

Through these conversations, I learned that achieving digital equity will not come only through just government funding or philanthropic funding. Rather, it will be achieved through a concerted effort between both government and private organizations communicating with frontline communities to identify their unique challenges.

For this transition to happen, multi-sector coalitions including governments, non-profits, communities, as well as private and public organizations, must present a united front towards achieving digital equity. As Siegel-Singh, Greenlining’s Program Manager of Tech Equity, puts it “there is a need for philanthropic support. Whether it’s funding coalitions or providing affordable devices to schools, philanthropy can be the catalyst needed to achieving digital equity in communities nationwide.”

Multi-sector coalitions, such as Oakland Undivided, have shown great success in transforming their communities to become digitally connected. With philanthropic funding, 97% of low-income students in the Oakland Unified School District were confirmed to be connected to online education, and over 50,000 public school students were provided a device to engage in online courses. This is a drastic transformation compared to the 12% of low-income students with internet access pre-pandemic. 

Programs like Town Link provide families with a computer, digital literacy training, and connection to free or low cost internet services, all of which can increase academic achievement, access to education, and employment opportunities.

Le believes that “this is critical as many first generation and low-income families rely on cell phones to access the internet to complete homework and attend remote classes – a proper computer and the training to use it is necessary so that students can fully engage.” This investment into digital education, equity, and connectedness for the next generation is essential for those living in formerly redlined communities and low-income areas to access education and career opportunities and build wealth.

Ensuring Equitable Investment Into Priority Communities:

With funding for digital equity programs rising, the question becomes how do we ensure these investments are equitable, especially in communities that need these programs the most. In anticipation of the Digital Equity Act, Greenlining developed an index of “priority communities” that should be prioritized for digital equity programs in Oakland Equity Zones and low broadband adoption neighborhoods. These priority communities have a concentration of historically disconnected and underserved residents as well as populations heavily impacted by barriers such as a low income and language.

Investing federal dollars into providing digital training services and making aid program applications easier to complete will help break through these barriers. Through collaboration with CBOs and multi-sector coalitions,  digital equity programs can be designed to be culturally relevant and accessible to the communities they serve.

As federal investment dollars begin disbursing, it is critical that cities and states analyze how best to prioritize their digital inclusion efforts. It is especially essential that discussion is opened with formerly redlined and disconnected communities to best envision, measure, and implement digital equity. Programs like Oakland Town Link provide models that demonstrate how to successfully tap into the strength and resources of local community based organizations to ensure priority communities are equipped with the skills, tools, and information they need to get connected to the internet and the opportunities it enables.