In early March, Karen Kama woke up early to distribute flyers in her neighborhood, informing people about a program at her local library in Reading, Pennsylvania, that teaches internet skills. Kama’s flyers are bilingual, catering to Reading’s large Hispanic population. This initiative is part of CNET’s coverage of efforts to bridge the digital divide.
Kama, who only started using the internet a year ago, has found it to be a valuable tool in her life. She now helps others in her community discover the benefits of the internet. However, she is aware of the digital gap that disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic Americans compared to their white counterparts.
Internet access has a significant impact on health, employment, and overall well-being. Yet, minority communities often face barriers such as lack of availability, affordability, and digital literacy. Experts emphasize the importance of internet connectivity for improving quality of life and addressing social and economic disparities.
Statistics from the Pew Research Center highlight disparities in internet adoption among different racial groups, with Black and Hispanic adults lagging behind white respondents. Income inequality plays a significant role in driving these disparities, as wealth disparities are closely linked to broadband adoption rates.
The historical practice of redlining, which systematically discriminated against Black neighborhoods in housing and lending practices, continues to impact internet access today. Studies have shown that neighborhoods previously redlined have slower internet speeds, perpetuating inequalities in digital access.
Efforts to address the digital divide must consider the historical and systemic factors that contribute to unequal access to the internet. Closing this gap requires addressing issues of affordability, availability, and education to ensure equal opportunities for all communities. Researchers discovered slower internet speeds in poorer neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Cleveland, Dallas, Philadelphia, New York, and Oakland, California. A 2022 report co-published by The Markup and the Associated Press analyzed 800,000 internet plan offers in 38 US cities, revealing that internet providers offered the worst plans to the least-white neighborhoods in two-thirds of the cities. Despite this, AT&T denied discriminating in providing internet access, citing factors such as costs, competition, and customer demand in their decision-making process.
The lack of fiber infrastructure in redlined neighborhoods has exacerbated wealth disparities and contributed to racial disparities in internet connectivity. While income plays a significant role in determining broadband infrastructure placement, racial disparities have also been observed in fiber deployment. This systemic issue of digital discrimination, whether intentional or not, has raised concerns about fairness and equal access to high-speed internet.
In cities like Reading, Pennsylvania, Comcast’s dominance in the market has led to limited competition and high prices for consumers. Despite offering low-cost internet options, Comcast’s pricing structure can result in significant price hikes for customers after promotional periods end, leaving them with limited choices. The FCC’s digital discrimination rules aim to address these disparities, but their implementation has faced legal challenges and industry pushback.
The focus on rural areas in bridging the broadband gap has overshadowed the inequalities faced by minority communities in urban settings. Programs like the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment initiative have aimed to increase internet access options, particularly prioritizing fiber infrastructure. However, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet for all communities. (Recently, I discussed how the fiber preference is changing with the Trump administration, which is expected to favor satellite options like Elon Musk’s Starlink.) Valentin emphasized that the digital divide is not just a rural issue and does not exclusively affect white populations. According to the 2020 census, nearly 14 million rural Americans identified as Black, Hispanic or Latino, Native, Asian, or multiracial, making up a population larger than that of New York City and Los Angeles combined.
A study from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in 2021 found that 38% of Black Americans in the Black Rural South lacked home internet access compared to 23% of white Americans in the region and 22% of Black Americans nationwide. The racial broadband gap extends beyond rural areas and is sometimes wider in cities.
Affordability is a significant barrier for many people when it comes to accessing the internet. Digital redlining has prevented minority groups from obtaining fast internet, but the cost remains a major hurdle for most individuals. The majority of federal broadband funding has been allocated to expanding infrastructure rather than helping people afford internet service.
Efforts to address this issue were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Emergency Broadband Benefit and the subsequent Affordable Connectivity Program. The ACP provided financial assistance to low-income families to maintain internet service. By the time the program ran out of funding in May 2024, over 23 million households had enrolled, including diverse groups such as Black and Latino households, military families, seniors, and Americans over 50.
Digital literacy and access to tools are also crucial components in bridging the digital divide. Many marginalized groups lack access to devices and the skills necessary to use them effectively. Nonprofits and providers offer discounted or free devices and training sessions to help individuals navigate the digital landscape.
It is essential to provide up-to-date digital literacy training that does not perpetuate racial stereotypes. Empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world can help bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to technology for all. Orang-orang kulit hitam berpenghasilan rendah khususnya sering distereotipkan sebagai orang yang tidak tahu apa-apa tentang cara menghidupkan komputer.”
“Sebenarnya, kita juga seharusnya memberikan literasi digital ke arah cara mereka melindungi privasi online mereka.”
“Berenang sebelum begitu banyak dari kita bahkan berjalan”
“Ketika saya bertanya kepada Burrell apakah dia akan pernah mempertimbangkan untuk membatalkan internetnya, dia terkejut bahwa saya bahkan bertanya.”
“Tidak pernah. Tidak pernah. Anda membutuhkannya. Anda membutuhkan internet tidak peduli apa,” kata dia. “Saya bisa tanpa melakukan kuku saya, tapi tidak tanpa internet.”
Phyllis Jackson, seorang asisten administrasi pensiunan di Monroeville, Pennsylvania, memberi saya jawaban yang sama.
“Saya tidak bisa hidup tanpanya,” kata dia. “Saya akan menemukan cara — mengurangi makanan atau panas atau apa pun. Karena itu benar-benar penting. Saya tinggal sendirian, dan komputer seperti teman terbaik saya.”
Pada akhirnya, kesenjangan broadband bukanlah kekuatan dengan pikiran sendiri — itu adalah hasil dari pilihan kita sebagai negara. Dan pilihan-pilihan itu tidak hanya meninggalkan komunitas warna di belakang.
“Keadilan tidak hanya berarti keadilan rasial,” kata Valentin. “Kita berbicara tentang komunitas pedesaan, komunitas berpenghasilan rendah, veteran, komunitas warna, tentu saja — dan semua cara di mana itu bersinggungan.”
Mungkin sulit untuk memahaminya. Pada saat yang sama OpenAI membangun pusat data yang secara kolektif akan mengonsumsi lebih banyak listrik daripada setiap rumah di Massachusetts, 21% warga Amerika tidak memiliki koneksi internet broadband untuk menggunakan alat-alat yang dihasilkannya.
“Kita sedang berlari sebelum begitu banyak dari kita bahkan bisa berjalan,” kata Claudia Ruiz, analis hak asasi manusia di UnidosUS. “Kita semua begitu fokus pada apa yang AI bisa bawa, pada bagaimana AI akan merevolusi segalanya. Tapi kita masih belum menangani kesenjangan konektivitas digital dasar.”
Beberapa ahli yang saya wawancarai untuk artikel ini merekomendasikan untuk menghubungi perwakilan Anda dan memberi tahu mereka bahwa kesenjangan digital adalah perhatian utama. Anda dapat menemukan informasi kontak senator dan perwakilan Anda dengan memasukkan alamat Anda di situs web Kongres.
“Jika konstituen datang kepada anggota mereka dan mengatakan, ‘Ini adalah sesuatu yang memengaruhi kami,’ saya pikir setidaknya itu akan membuat mereka berhenti sejenak,” kata Mercado.