Closing the Divide- Sheila Dugan

Closing the Divide:How Cities Can Promote Digital Equity

SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW

Present some information…

@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1


Present some information…Learn from you…



Present some information…Learn from you…Walk away with next steps!




1. Scope of Problem and Assumptions




1. Scope of Problem and Assumptions2. Models




1. Scope of the Problem and Assumptions2. Models3. Problem Solving Discussion


Source: U.S. Census Bureau

1 in 4 households in the United States are without home Internet access.

Barriers:Cost RelevancyDigital Literacy

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Internet

Characteristic of Householders

Householdswith no Internet Use at home

65 years and older 43.2%

Black alone 38.1%

Hispanic (of any race) 35.7%

Less than high school graduate 60.7%

THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

24% of households making less than $30K do not go online.

Sometimes me and my mom would go just to the parking lot at McDonalds and use the WiFi to do and get what I needed to get done.

Darriale Bradley, Junior, Southwest High(Macon, GA)

ASSUMPTIONS: MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Opportunities

• Can serve as gateway to digital citizenship

• Increasingly critical part of online lives

• Mobile-only users more likely to be low-income, less educated, African American, or Latino



Opportunities

• Can serve as gateway to digital citizenship

• Increasingly important part of online lives

• Mobile-only users more likely to be low-income, less educated, African American, or Latino

Limitations

• User interface ill suited for some key activities

• Download/upload can be hindered by speed

• Data usage caps discourage online exploration



Political and Economic Activities Less Connected

Home Broadband

Difference

Use Internet to visit local, state, or federal government website 57% 79% -22%

Use Internet to get information from a government agency on health/safety 35% 54% -19%

Use Internet to get information or apply for job 45% 60% -15%

Use Internet to take a class for credit toward a degree 12% 24% -12%

Use Internet for online banking 35% 70% -35%

Use Internet to get local or community news 55% 80% -25%

Use Internet to get national or international news 52% 77% -25%

Note: Reported frequencies are weighted. Sample based on the 3,477 respondents who use the Internet. 2009 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Survey of 5,000 respondents nationwide. Less connected = dial up Internet or no Internet at home, including individuals with mobile access only.Source: Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C., & Franko, W. (2013). Mobile Access and the Less-Connected. In Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity (p. 74). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.


Political and Economic Activities Less Connected

Home Broadband

Difference

Use Internet to visit local, state, or federal government website 57% 79% -22%

Use Internet to get information from a government agency on health/safety 35% 54% -19%

Use Internet to get information or apply for job 45% 60% -15%

Use Internet to take a class for credit toward a degree 12% 24% -12%

Use Internet for online banking 35% 70% -35%

Use Internet to get local or community news 55% 80% -25%

Use Internet to get national or international news 52% 77% -25%

Note: Reported frequencies are weighted. Sample based on the 3,477 respondents who use the Internet. 2009 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Survey of 5,000 respondents nationwide. Less connected = dial up Internet or no Internet at home, including individuals with mobile access only.Source: Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C., & Franko, W. (2013). Mobile Access and the Less-Connected. In Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity (p. 74). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

ASSUMPTIONS: PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Opportunities

• Free• Training and assistance• Locations across city• 44% of households below poverty

line report using computers or the Internet at a public library

• Youth and minorities are among most frequent public access users


ASSUMPTIONS: PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Limitations

• Hours of business• Staff capacity• Wait time• Duration of time slot

Opportunities

• Free• Training and assistance• Locations across city• 44% of households below poverty

line report using computers or the Internet at a public library

• Youth and minorities are among most frequent public access users


MODEL: NEW YORK CITY, NY

City has leveraged existing assets and institutions in unique ways, particularly through Digital Roadmap • BTOP funded digital literacy and

home broadband adoption initiatives anchored to NYC Department of Education

• New York Public Library • Mobile Tech Van • WiFi in phone booths

MODEL: CHICAGO, IL

Chicago Tech Plan• Access and adoption understood

as critical to Chicago’s future in global, tech-driven economy

• Place-based orientation informed by evidence from Smart Communities BTOP-funded pilot

• Goal of increasing options for low-cost broadband

MODEL: WILSON, NC

Greenlight Community Broadband• Network launched in 2008• Borrowed $33 million to build the

network• Internet-only packages range

from $39.95 to $154.95 per month• Serves 7,000 of 50,000 residents

MODEL: San Leandro, CA

Lit San Leandro• October 17, 2011 - San Leandro

City Council approved a license agreement allowing installation of a fiber optic loop

• March 2, 2012 - Lit San Leandro went live.

• Won a $2.1 million federal grant to expand its network for businesses

BEST PRACTICES

1. Understand your city’s needs and valuable assets.2. Build community-wide coalitions with a diverse set of

stakeholders. 3. Collaborate with other municipalities in your metro area. 4. Constantly think of sustainability.5. Develop plans that keep in mind the needs of your most

vulnerable populations. 6. Neighborhood context is critical.


DISCUSSION

• What assets and tools do cities have (dark fiber, institutions like libraries, etc.)?

• How are we integrating broadband adoption in our economic development plans?

• How do we make sure our initiatives are sustainable?


CONTACT US

Sheila Dugan EveryoneOn.org / @everyone_on / [email protected]

Anne SchwiegerDigitalEquityProject.com / @DigEquity / [email protected]

Deborah AcostaSanLeandroNext.com / @DeborahAcosta1 / [email protected]

Date post:	30-May-2015
Category:	Government & Nonprofit
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Closing the Divide- Sheila Dugan

Government & Nonprofit