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Written by A. Wachsmuth, L’26<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The digital divide is defined as, \u201ca significant technological gap between rural and urban Americans \u2026 [t]his lack of access to technology was soon found to affect not just rural Americans, but BIPOC communities, women, and the elderly because of systemic differences in wealth, infrastructure and cultural attitudes.\u201d[1]<\/sup><\/a> While some could argue that access to tech is solely a poverty-driven issue, the data cited below shows that race is an outstanding factor.[2]<\/sup><\/a> That said, this blog post recognizes that finances play a crucial role in technology deserts too.[3]<\/sup><\/a> This post surveys the current resolutions to resolve tech deserts generally. This post reviews various forms of technology when analyzing technology deserts, including computers and broadband. However, there is more data pertaining to broadband access, so that is what will be analyzed in depth here.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 At the national level, race and rural status play a role in whether individuals have steady access to technology.[4]<\/sup><\/a>For example, the National Urban League (NUL) reported that \u201c36 percent of Americans living in rural areas of the United States lack high-speed home internet and 14 percent don\u2019t have a computer\u201d as of 2018.[5]<\/sup><\/a> Additionally, the NUL provided data showing that \u201cnearly 31 percent of Black households are without high-speed home internet and 17 percent have no computer.\u201d[6]<\/sup><\/a> The National Urban League argues that the federal government should provide financial support to cure such tech deserts.[7]<\/sup><\/a> Funding concerns for technology deserts exist at every level of government; while funding is generally taken care of at the state level, many school districts still cannot keep schools up to par.[8]<\/sup><\/a> Technology is just one of the many infrastructural issues; for example, persistent water damage and severe pest infestations in schools are additional stressors.[9]<\/sup><\/a> In practice, college preparedness and at-home learning (i.e., homework, studying) falter through tech deserts.[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In Virginia, data showing access to technology seems to mirror that of the federal government: race and rural statuses continue to play a role in technology disparities.[11]<\/sup><\/a> For example, the American Immigration Council (AIC) stated that \u201cnearly one in four people, or 23.1 percent, of racial and ethnic minorities did not have high-speed internet at home.\u201d[12]<\/sup><\/a> As for Virginia\u2019s school-aged students specifically, twelve percent overall had no computer devices, and fourteen percent overall had no broadband connectivity.[13]<\/sup><\/a> Of all these students, Latinx and African-American students were hit the hardest; the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia reported that \u201cBlack and Latino student households each are more than two times likely to lack a computer or laptop in the home than white students.\u201d[14]<\/sup><\/a> As stated above, it can be hard to handle a myriad of issues all at once, all with poor budgets.[15]<\/sup><\/a> Technological advances are, as usual, moving far too fast, and both Virginia and the federal government are working on resolving broadband deserts; however, broadband has been around for over twenty years since the 2000s, and we just now are seeing some major state and federal efforts to resolve these inequities.[16]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The federal government is attuned to the various issues and impacts that stem from these widespread technology deserts, as seen through grants and federally designated programs.[17]<\/sup><\/a> Specifically, the federal government has acknowledged the significant role of race as it pertains to these technology deserts.[18]<\/sup><\/a> The federal government spent $268+ million through their \u201cConnecting Minority Communities Pilot Program\u201d to help patch up broadband deserts.[19]<\/sup><\/a>While this program did not directly target K-12 schools, it did serve racialized minority students who are in higher-education.[20]<\/sup><\/a> More specifically, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), are beneficiaries of this federal financial support.[21]<\/sup><\/a> To track the efficacy of this initiative, the Connecting Minority Communities Program\u2019s website displays a map that shows the various schools that have begun to reap these benefits.[22]<\/sup><\/a> The Program delineates categories to sort and label where funds were expended.[23]<\/sup><\/a> Nearly tied, the two most popular \u201cawards\u201d (or categories) were \u201cWorkforce Training\/Economic Growth\u201d with sixty-eight\u00a0 \u201cawards\u201d and \u201cInstitutional Broadband and IT Capacity\u201d with sixty-seven\u00a0 \u201cawards.\u201d[24]<\/sup><\/a> The density of awards concentrated on the northeast, south, and southwest.[25]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 More notably, the federal government was responsible for instituting the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, in which it expended over $42 billion.[26]<\/sup><\/a> The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is further responsible for setting about the details and seeing it through in practice, all falling under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.[27]<\/sup><\/a> Specifically, this federal initiative serves to \u201cfund[] projects<\/em> that help expand high-speed Internet access and use.\u201d[28]<\/sup><\/a> Financial support from the BEAD Program is eventually pumped into \u201capproved\u201d states.[29]<\/sup><\/a> Companies, including large companies like Verizon, seek \u201cbids\u201d to set up internet\/broadband in technology deserts as part of the BEAD Program.[30]<\/sup><\/a> Then, after securing a contract, fiber optic cables or other equipment must be employed which demands physical labor.[31]<\/sup><\/a> These cables may extend underground, which can pose a myriad of risks.[32]<\/sup><\/a> As one can expect, the BEAD program has not been executed without flaws, and there seems to be some disconnect within the program.[33]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Larger corporations make contracts to set up internet in places that have been disconnected for years, so when it comes to actually setting up internet access via fiber optic cables there can be severe logistical issues.[34]<\/sup><\/a> News reports showed that, at one point, \u201cVerizon submitted a bid in one area where it knew it would need to run buried cable but had assumed it would be digging in soil \u2026 [i]nstead, it hit \u2018ledge,\u2019 which is also known as bedrock<\/em>.\u201d[35]<\/sup><\/a> Further, Del. Terry Austin of Virginia noted setbacks with broadband installation, pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic and various economic concerns.[36]<\/sup><\/a> Del. Austin stated, in discussing state and <\/em>federal level efforts: \u201cI think the federal dollars are great, but we have to have cooperation among everyone to make it happen.\u201d[37]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Under Governor Glenn Youngkin, Virginia has expended resources in the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI), which mirrors BEAD in many ways.[38]<\/sup><\/a> The Department of Housing and Community Development even released a \u201cVATI and BEAD Comparison Cheat Sheet.\u201d[39]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b>The \u201cConnecting Minority Communities Program\u201d has been successful at the state level.[40]<\/sup><\/a> In Virginia alone, three historically Black higher education institutions now enjoy the benefits of this program.[41]<\/sup><\/a> Two of these institutions are in Central Virginia: Virginia State University and Virginia Union University.[42]<\/sup><\/a> The third is located in the east: Norfolk State University.[43]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hanover County has made waves in resolving the local technology desert issue.[44]<\/sup><\/a> The county instituted \u201cHanover Connect,\u201d which serves as the local broadband effort, with VATI support.[45]<\/sup><\/a> Hanover Connect released a map that depicts the various \u201czones\u201d where broadband is lacking and <\/em>where broadband is forthcoming in the county.[46]<\/sup><\/a> The eastern portion of the county is set to obtain internet this February, while the western portion of the county will receive such access at some point in 2025.[47]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b>Research discussing technology deserts have reviewed the \u201cExpansion of E-Rate.\u201d[48]<\/sup><\/a> E-rate is a broadband-specific program; while the program helps cure technology deserts and their pervasiveness in Black and rural communities in the short term, it may not be as helpful in the long-term. For example, program-specific plans do not account for oncoming technology, such as AI training and the like, but rather they have one specific goal.[49]<\/sup><\/a> Further, the \u201cUniversal Service Fund (USF)\u201d faced backlash from the 5th<\/sup> Circuit in Consumers\u2019 Research v. FCC<\/em>.[50]<\/sup><\/a> In this case, the majority concluded that \u201cthis misbegotten tax violates Article I, \u00a7 1 of the Constitution.\u201d[51]<\/sup><\/a> The \u201ctax\u201d in question references the USF, which serves as the financial plinth for E-Rate.[52]<\/sup><\/a> The Supreme Court of the United States will hear an appeal of this case.[53]<\/sup><\/a> Striking the USF could cease the E-RATE program, but it would also stop \u201cunelected bureaucrats [from] setting a universal service tax on telecom consumers.\u201d[54]<\/sup><\/a> Limiting the power of \u201cunelected bureaucrats\u201d is a strong argument that sounds promising for those opposing the USF or larger government intervention in curing tech deserts; if the U.S. does not have E-RATE, however, communities will continue to be underserved.[55]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Broadband has been available in the United States since the early 2000s, but the U.S. is just now implementing national, state, and local efforts, such as the Connecting Minority Communities Program.[56]<\/sup><\/a> Shouldn\u2019t this issue have been tackled decades <\/em>ago? This delay raises the question of whether we will be twenty years behind on the next technological breakthrough\/advancement.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Finally, just because someone can access broadband (let\u2019s say, through Verizon or Comcast), that does not<\/em> mean they will be able to pay for it in the long term. \u201cThe average phone bill is now $141 per month\u201d and Verizon\u2019s starting internet plans float around $50 per month; together, that is $191 in additional costs per month (and $2,292 per year) that people may not be willing\u2014or\u00a0 able\u2014to dish out.[57]<\/sup><\/a> Although varying internet plans and other circumstances will certainly fluctuate these monthly and annual expenses, these additional costs just might not be feasible for some. The United for ALICE program stated that there is a \u201cFederal Poverty Level of $13,590 for a single adult;\u201d $2,292 is a lot of money to spend when one is making less than $15,000 each year, especially when taking into account the cost of food and other resources.[58]<\/sup><\/a> Further, the United for ALICE\u2019s website creates ideal \u201csurvival budgets\u201d (similar to a budget calculator) for folks at the poverty line in Virginia.[59]<\/sup><\/a> When looking at one municipality, to maintain the ideal budget, single persons should only spend $86 a month on technology.[60]<\/sup><\/a> This is far below the $191 that it may cost people for phone and internet plans.[61]<\/sup><\/a> In sum, the U.S., and Virginia need quicker and more widespread efforts to cure technology deserts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Photograph of Cellular Communication Tower, in<\/em>, Verizon \u2013 Cellular Communication Tower Sites<\/em>, Langan, https:\/\/www.langan.com\/portfolio\/verizon-cellular-communication-tower-sites (last visited January 20, 2025).<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> A Look Back: Telework and the Digital Divide<\/em>, Univ. of mich. Ctr. for Soc. Sols., https:\/\/lsa.umich.edu\/social-solutions\/news-events\/news\/digests\/a-look-back\/a-look-back–telework-and-the-digital-divide.html (last visited Dec. 12, 2024).<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> New Analysis Shows Students of Color More Likely to Be Cut from Online Learning<\/em>, Nat\u2019l Urb. League (Nov. 17, 2024), https:\/\/nul.org\/news\/new-analysis-shows-students-color-more-likely-be-cut-online-learning.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [8]<\/a> \u00a0See e.g.<\/em>, Cardell Patillo, Jr., Many Communities in Virginia Struggle with Funding Their Schools<\/em>, Cardinal News (Sept. 12, 2024), https:\/\/cardinalnews.org\/2024\/09\/12\/many-communities-in-virginia-struggle-with-funding-their-schools\/; Christina Zdanowicz & Holly Yan, US Public Schools Get a D+ for Poor Conditions, and Experts Say Problems Are Getting Worse. Here\u2019s What Kids Are Facing<\/em>, CNN (Sept. 18, 2022), https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/09\/18\/us\/school-conditions-2022\/index.html<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> Zdanowicz & Yan, supra <\/em>note 9.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> Interview with Patricia Hunter-Jordan, President of the Hanover Branch NAACP (Nov. 15, 2024).<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Examining Gaps in Digital Inclusion in Virginia<\/em>, Am. Imm. Council (Dec. 2022), https:\/\/www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org\/sites\/default\/files\/examining_gaps_in_digital_inclusion_in_virginia.pdf; Michael \u201cTroy\u201d Hatcher, Race, Education, and Technology: How the Expansion of \u2018E-Rate\u2019 Could Alleviate Educational Inequalities from Online Education Exacerbated by COVID-19<\/em>, Am. U. Wash. Col. of L. (2020), https:\/\/digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=stu_upperlevel_papers.<\/p>\n [12]<\/a> Examining Gaps in Digital Inclusion in Virginia<\/em>, supra <\/em>note 12.<\/p>\n [13]<\/a> Tom Allison, A Closer Look At Virginia\u2019s Digital Divide in Education<\/em>, State Council of Higher Educ. Va. (Sept. 10, 2020), https:\/\/www.schev.edu\/Home\/Components\/News\/News\/60\/200?arch=1 (this data references at-home access).<\/p>\n [14]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [15]<\/a> See e.g.<\/em>, Patillo Jr., supra <\/em>note 9; Zdanowicz & Yan, supra <\/em>note 9; see also <\/em>Katelyn Harlow, School Canceled for Hopewell High School Students After AC Issues<\/em>, ABC8 (Aug. 6, 2024), https:\/\/www.wric.com\/news\/local-news\/the-tri-cities\/school-canceled-for-hopewell-high-school-students-after-ac-issues\/ (in Hopewell, VA, reports show that children had to miss school days in due to faulty AC units).<\/p>\n [16]<\/a> See e.g.<\/em>, Connecting Minority Communities Program<\/em>, Broadband USA, https:\/\/broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov\/funding-programs\/connecting-minority-communities (last visited Dec. 20, 2024).<\/p>\n [17]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [18]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [19]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [20]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [21]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [22]<\/a> CMC Awards<\/em>, Connecting Minority Cmtys. Program, https:\/\/nbam.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/dashboards\/1bbcd97a1e8a4320b5aaf61add10a5d6 (last visited January 20, 2025).<\/p>\n [23]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [24]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [25]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [26]<\/a> Overview: Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program<\/em>, Internet for All, https:\/\/www.internetforall.gov\/program\/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program (last visited Dec. 20, 2024).<\/p>\n [27]<\/a> Id. <\/em><\/p>\n