The Digital Divide
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE DISCONNECTED
The Digital Divide
Encyclopedia Britannica defines it as "...the uneven distribution of information and communication technologies in society. The digital divide encompasses differences in both access and usage of computers and the Internet..." How the divide precipitates in the US is through lack of access to laptop or desktop computers at home or a lack of reliable internet access.
The internet is not affordable for many who earn $35,000 or less, which is a 42.8 percent of those living in Shreveport. Why is this is an issue? Well for a number a reasons. Public Safety stems from economic stability. Economic stability stems from educational opportunity and access. And with the addition of a global pandemic, education is now heavily dependent on internet connectivity.
It cost $400 for a basic model computer with limited storage.
The average starting price for internet is around $35, but most Americans are paying an average of $60/mo. for broadband.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In a study conducted by Condeco Software, 41% of global businesses surveyed say they already offer some degree of remote working , while 60% provide flextime opportunities that allow employees to choose when to start and end their workday. Upwork’s “Future Workforce Report” predicts that 73% of all teams will have remote workers by 2028 .
If we can connect more of our population, provide useful computing devices, and skill up our low Socioeconomic population, it could potentially be the fastest economic development the City has ever seen.
If our connected workforce were able to to be known nation wide as reliable remote workers, then we wouldn't even need to recruit business here to gain more tax revenues and that would help lift our city.
Brandon Fail, Economic Development Director/City of Shreveport
EDUCATION
"The Great Equalizer"
Only months after Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started spreading in late 2019 it was believed by some that this virus could be what is known as the Great Equalizer. When it comes to education, clearly this is is the Great Unequalizer.
Keith Burton, Chief Academic Officer, Caddo Schools
"Covid-19 has increased the gaps in educational opportunities in far too many families, especially low-income and families of color. The equity implications can be seen in every school across our school district. Because of the digital divide, many students cannot engage in virtual learning or complete their homework due to limited internet availability. While expanding high-speed internet isn’t the only solution for families, it has become a necessity for learning in 2020."
54% of Caddo Parish students were virtual at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year because of the Covid 19 Pandemic. The 54% Virtual enrollment has since dropped to 40%.
These are some reasons why.
Responses by Caddo Parish Parents
A look at the Digital Divide with Census data
Here we can see children under 18 who have access to computers.
2018 American Community Survey Data
We can also compare those same children and if they have broadband access.
2018 American Community Survey Data
We can combine those datasets and apply a filter to see only the areas where less than 100% of the children have computers.
We can change the filter to see the areas where less than 100% of the children have broadband.
How about we combine both filters to see the areas that are affected by both parameters.
OUR SOLUTION
We are investigating all methods of offering free Wi-Fi to the City's hardest hit areas. All Wi-Fi we deploy will be filtered and secure such that it is primarily intended for educational purposes.
The I.T. Department created a sensor and joined forces with Public Works. This sensor is mounted on our garbage trucks to accurately map where internet has been purchased and where it hasn't.
Internet Adoption Map Generated by the City of Shreveport I.T. Department
This is not a final map - data is continually being updated
Amy Vu from the NWLA Makerspace dropping off a donated computer to a family in need.
The City desires to partner with Local Non-Profits to provide computing devices to families in need. But we can not stop there. Once families have access to devices, the next step is learning to use them.
A Caddo Parish Student at a SPAR Center doing class work during the day because of the newly implemented Computer Rec Program.
In collaboration with Shreve Memorial Library, Caddo Schools, LSUS & Community Organizations, we will target each SPAR Rec Center sorted in general by greatest need FIRST and expand our network into the neighborhoods, instead of just the parking lot.
Sources
Anders, D. (2020). Do you really know how much high-speed internet costs? Are you paying too much? Retrieved from https://www.allconnect.com/blog/cost-of-high-speed-internet
Hering, B. (2020). Remote Work Statistics: Shifting Norms and Expectations. Retrieved from https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/remote-work-statistics/
Mein, S. (2020). COVID-19 and Health Disparities: the Reality of “the Great Equalizer. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7224347/
U.S. Census Bureau (2019). INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2019 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS). Retrieved from https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?t=Income%20%28Households,%20Families,%20Individuals%29%3AIncome%20and%20Earnings%3AIncome%20and%20Poverty&g=1600000US2270000&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1901&hidePreview=false
