Rural Communities & Digital Device Ownership

The purpose of this brief is to raise awareness of the difficulties rural communities face when trying to address the device ownership issue. Rural areas are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to providing and supporting device ownership. This is a crucial piece of the internet use and digital equity puzzle. These rural-oriented difficulties are broken into three categories summarized as the “Three S’s:” Status Quo, Supply, and Support.

• Status Quo (Socio-Demographics): Higher rates of households with no computers in rural areas right now. Rural demographics (lower income, more elderly) less likely to embrace
• computers.
• Supply: Fewer refurbishers and businesses able to donate used devices. Fewer providers offering low-cost devices as part of the Affordable Connectivity Program.
• Support: Fewer nonprofits to gather devices, distribute them, and help with their use. Fewer tech-savvy librarians and digital inclusion organizations. Fewer repair-oriented businesses.