Now is the time to close the Latino digital divide

A basic human right — the ability to fully participate in modern life via affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service — remains out of reach for many. The Biden administration recently announced it had reached agreements with 20 leading internet providers, covering more than 80 percent of Americans, to provide households eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) high-speed internet plans for no more than $30 a month. But are those that can receive the benefit getting what they need to enroll? This is an especially urgent matter for the Latino community, which is disproportionately affected by the digital divide. A 2021 Pew Research study found that only 67 percent of Hispanic adults reported owning a computer and only 65 percent said they have internet service at home, compared to 80 percent of white adults who reported both. To make an important government program like ACP successful, trusted community partners must work together with state and local governments to raise awareness, guide local leaders and drive engagement. We hope other community leaders and nonprofit organizations will join us in collaborating to grow the success of the ACP program and that more providers decide to participate — so we can make progress toward closing the digital divide in the heartland and across the country.

[Sindy Benavides is the CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Angie Cooper is the chief program officer of Heartland Forward.]