This article in the Seattle Times brings to light digital inequities in a major technology hub. Solutions spurred on by the pandemic include public-private partnerships, municipal broadband operated by the cities, as well as private companies with existing programs such as Comcast Internet Essential.
School and library closures in mid-March eliminated access to free computers and the internet many people relied on, bringing to light digital inequities that have always existed. The pandemic has spurred organizations, major tech companies and school districts to contribute some computers and tech support to people in need. Some transit systems are even using buses to create drive-in, public Wi-Fi hotspots.
But closing the long-held digital gap isn’t as simple as handing out computers: It requires reliable internet, adequate devices and digital literacy skills in order to take advantage of the technology, researchers say. And to do that now, during a global pandemic, would be an incredibly large feat.
“It seems simple at first,” said Laura Robinson, an associate professor at Santa Clara University whose research examines digital inequities. “Let’s just get everybody what they need and let’s just go. But it’s horrifically complicated.”
Even in the greater Seattle region — one of the country’s leading technology hubs — a significant digital divide persists, particularly for low- income families. Households earning $25,000 or lower in Seattle have the lowest internet access rates, with 21% of households reporting a lack of internet access, according to a 2018 technology study by the city.