Digital Divide

What Is The Digital Divide and Why Does It Matter?  

The digital divide is usually defined as whether an individual has a broadband (high-speed) internet connection in their home or owns a smartphone. These devices are necessary to fully access the modern Internet and use it to learn about public policy, read and watch news stories, buy and sell things, even find a job or apply for government benefits.  

The digital divide disproportionately impacts lower-income families and those with fewer educational resources, impeding access to information, economic opportunities, and personal growth. These households often face a lack of reliable internet access. Consequently, children struggle to complete school assignments and gain necessary digital literacy skills, while adults encounter barriers to job opportunities, healthcare information, and government services.

Low-income, homebound older adults show a significant internet usage gap compared to the general population, influenced by factors like exposure, affordability, medical conditions, and disabilities. Advanced digital skills are increasingly necessary for older adults to access essential services, such as the electronic market for social services and health care. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified these disparities, making remote work, distance learning, and telehealth services essential, thereby exacerbating the challenges faced by those without reliable internet access.

How Does Internet Access Vary Across The United States?

In 2021, about 77% of adults living in urban areas and 79% in suburban areas reported having a broadband internet connection at home, compared to 72% of those in rural areas. This digital divide in rural and urban America is lower than in the past as rural areas have closed the gap. Internet access in rural areas has increased substantially since 2016, when only 63% of rural residents reported having home broadband. However, some differences remain due to the higher cost of infrastructure investment in rural areas and lower population densities, making it less profitable for companies to provide broadband services.

The digital divide is larger for age, income, education, and race. For example, 63% of seniors (65 or older) reported home broadband access compared to 88% of adults aged 30-49 and 95% of those between 18-29.

Regarding income, over 92% of households earning $75,000 annually have home broadband, in contrast to 56% of those earning less than $30,000. Those earning less than $30,000 are also less likely to have a smartphone; 76% of people who make less than $30,000 have smartphones, as opposed to 96% of those who make $75,000 or more. The figure below shows how these disparities have evolved over time.

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The digital divide for education levels is also substantial. In 2021, over 94% of those with a college education had broadband access compared to only 59% for those with a high school education or lower.  

Racial disparities are also evident in these surveys, with 79% of white adults, 71% of Black adults, and 66% of Hispanic adults having home broadband. Additionally, white adults are over 10% more likely to have a computer or laptop than Black or Hispanic adults. Notably, there is no significant difference in smartphone ownership between racial groups.

What Efforts Have Been Made To Narrow The Digital Divide?  

Federal and state governments have launched numerous initiatives to bridge the digital divide. One of the key efforts at the federal level is the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) initiated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Initially funded with over four billion dollars, BTOP aims to increase broadband access nationwide, particularly in unserved and underserved areas. Another significant FCC program, the Connect America Fund (CAF), receives annual funding of approximately $4.5 billion to expand access to voice and broadband services in regions where they are unavailable. The outcomes indicate these programs have had a positive impact on rural areas. Research on the CAF Phase-II suggests the program has had an overall positive effect on employment rates. However, the impact of these programs varies substantially by region, indicating that while progress has been made, the digital divide remains a complex issue that is influenced by a variety of regional and local factors.

Is The Digital Divide Larger Or Smaller In Other Countries?

About two-thirds of the world’s population uses the internet. Europe has the highest internet use with 89% of the public having access, followed by America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), former Soviet states in Eurasia. The lowest internet usage is in Africa, at 40%. The digital divide varies among industrialized countries due to economic, demographic, and infrastructure factors. For instance, countries like South Korea and Sweden, with advanced digital infrastructure, have near-universal internet accessibility.

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