Digital Equity: Establishing the Foundations for Evidence-Informed Action
Breese McIlvaine and Elena Lowinger
Pursuit of the “American Dream” has inspired innovation for centuries, motivating people from all walks of life to believe in themselves, and strive to make a difference in their communities, country, and in the world. The American Dream relies on an assumption that all of us are able to stand on the same foundation, and then climb. Today, that foundation relies on digital access. Unfortunately, we are not all on equal footing.
In the US, 6.83 percent of the population of the United States lacks access to 100/20 Mbps service and are therefore considered “unserved” by broadband. Our research shows that the population in the US lacking broadband access is disproportionately comprised of individuals living in rural areas and on Tribal lands.
43% of adults in the US with incomes lower than $30,000 do not have a home broadband subscription, according to Pew. Overall, approximately 20% of households don’t subscribe to broadband, even when it’s available to them. Affordability and other barriers stymie universal home broadband subscription.
Globally, one third of the world’s population remains offline, according to the International Telecommunications Union.
Focusing on Digital Equity
Digital equity is “The condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy of the United States” (Source: NTIA). It benefits individuals, economies, democracies, and business. In the US, the Federal Government, as well as state, tribal, and local governments, has launched significant initiatives to expand broadband access and digital equity, such as the Internet for All Plans and US Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect Loan and Grant Program. Sustaining gains from expanded broadband networks to previously unserved areas hinge on broadband adoption, linking the importance of affordability and skilling initiatives to the success of Internet Service Providers’ (ISPs’) business models. More people with access to broadband services that have the skills, devices, and perceive the value of access to the Internet means more long-term customers for ISPs.
A Global Priority
The US is not the only country seeking to ameliorate digital inequities. In the United Kingdom’s latest Digital Development Strategy, one of the 2024-2030 objectives is to “ensure that no one is left behind in a digital world.” On a global scale, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals as a call to action to end inequality by 2030. According to the International Telecommunication Union and the United Nations Development Programme, leveraging digital technologies “can help accelerate progress towards 70% of the Sustainable Development Goals directly, while indirectly supporting the other 30%.” Global development funders are releasing new strategies for digital development, highlighting the prioritization and urgency of digital equity.
No Simple Task
Here at Vernonburg Group, digital equity is central to our mission. The broadband adoption gap is as important as addressing the broadband availability gap. But it can be challenging to find the gaps and design and implement the right solutions to address them. Vernonburg Group recently assisted the State of Vermont in developing its Digital Equity Plan. One key challenge encountered was finding granular, localized data on digital equity indicators for specific demographics. Establishing a robust evidence base is a critical priority to understand these problems and track progress.
The Need for Curated, Actionable Evidence and Guidance
That’s why Vernonburg Group continues to produce publicly available resources to help policymakers, program managers, funders, and other stakeholders optimize their resources to advance digital equity.
Where should we start? We’ve published handbooks with clear, actionable recommendations for state and local government administrators, providing them with detailed steps and examples to effectively administer digital equity programs.
How can we pinpoint needs and make targeted interventions based on evidence? [EK1] We created a Digital Equity Map, which helps people understand the national and local digital equity landscape, identifying areas of need to make evidence-informed decisions on programs and investments.
Do we have enough funding to pursue our goals? We produced a Broadband Funding Optimization Tool, which helps states understand how they can optimize the funding they have to achieve their objectives for broadband deployment and digital equity.
These resources are a start, but they don’t answer all our questions. Stakeholders are wondering:
What state Digital Equity Plans will cover and what gaps will remain?
Where are the communities with the greatest needs and why?
Now that the Affordable Connectivity Program has ended, what can be done to help low-income households with affordability barriers?
What are the fundamental digital competencies we need and do resources already exist to help people build those competencies?
Vernonburg Group is committed to continuing to produce evidence-based tools and guidance. We will continue to explore these topics (and more) and share what we learn. We invite readers to follow our updates and partner with us as we continue to publish resources aimed at promoting digital equity.