States Look at the Data as They Try to Address the Digital Divide

Policymakers and other stakeholders are becoming more aware of the hazards of assuming everyone has online access. Many are interested in understanding the places where online access may be lower than the norm and the population groups that may have limited or no access to the internet. Recent work I have done sheds light on some of these issues. Close examinations of high-speed internet adoption gaps in Maryland, Connecticut, and Illinois highlight the variations among different geographies and demographic groups. Two key points are worth highlighting from those broadband adoption reports, which are based on an analysis of American Community Survey data. A growing number of state policymakers view closing the digital divide as a part of larger strategies to address the economic and social disruptions of the pandemic. This is heartening to see. Having data on the nature of the gaps should help them as they formulate policies to get more people online.

[John B. Horrigan is a frequent contributor to Benton's Digital Beat and a Senior Fellow at the Technology Policy Institute, with a focus on technology adoption, digital inclusion, and evaluating the outcomes and impacts of programs designed to promote communications technology adoption and use.]