Too many of Alachua County’s children lack the broadband Internet access they will need to succeed in school and in life, according to a group of Alachua County residents.
The Digital Divide Task Force, which began meeting in October, grew from initial meetings between Cox Communications and the Gainesville Housing Authority focused on enhancing service at GHA properties.
The “digital divide” is a term coined to describe economic inequalities that are exacerbated by the uneven adoption of broadband technology. A 2013 study conducted jointly by the government’s Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Economic Council noted that low levels of technology adoption are a threat to sound communities.
“Absent (broadband) connectivity, individuals cannot take advantage of opportunities for education and skills development, entrepreneurship and e-commerce available to those with the connectivity,” the report noted.
The Divide
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) found in 2013 that while broadband speed of at least three mbps, the minimum threshold deemed adequate, is available to 98.18 percent of the U.S. population, the adoption rate — the number of households that subscribe to a high-speed Internet service provider — is much lower, especially among low-income families. In fact, the gap is enormous.
NTIA estimates that 93 percent of households earning above $100,000 have broadband Internet while only 43 percent of homes earning less than $25,000 are connected.
The U.S. Census reports that 23.7 percent of households in Alachua County have incomes below the poverty threshold, which is almost 10 percentage points higher than the national average. Although this statistic is often hotly contested by those who feel the number is unfairly inflated by the college student population, there is no question that the number of children living in poverty in the area represents a challenge to the community.
According to data compiled by the federal government, a staggering 13,582 school-age children in Alachua County qualify for free or reduced lunch. That’s almost half of all students. If the national poverty level statistic is extrapolated to this population, it is reasonable to estimate that roughly 8,000 children in Alachua County do not have high-speed Internet at home. The number is particularly outstanding in light of the fact that schools must transition to electronic textbooks by 2015.
Evelyn Foxx, a Gainesville Housing Authority board member and president of the Alachua County NAACP, said action is needed now because local children will not be able to complete homework assignments at home and may not have access to nearby public Internet access.
This is not only a threat to the success of the students; it could stifle innovation-centered economic growth dependent upon digitally skilled employees.
That’s why the task force was formed.
Closing the Gap
In 2013, Foxx and Gainesville City Commissioner Yvonne Hinson-Rawls approached Cox Communications about partnering to help connect children living in GHA properties.
Cox had recently deployed its own efforts to traverse the digital divide. As a partner with the national nonprofit Connect2Compete, Cox agreed to offer huge discounts to households with children on the free-lunch program. Under the new program, the homes can receive two years of high-speed Internet for under $10 a month.
But, cost is only one barrier to adoption. If a structure’s internal wiring is antiquated, as it is in many public housing complexes, service may not be optimal. Even if the wiring is upgraded, functional participation in the digital community likely requires hardware and training.
Toward that end, the group’s first goals are to upgrade public housing wiring and establish technology labs in all eight GHA properties. Already, computers and software have been provided for three labs, and both UF and Santa Fe are training proctors for them. The Digital Divide committee had the first labs up and running in April.
Other community leaders have joined Cox, the Gainesville Housing Authority and the NAACP on the task force to identify additional community resources that could be mobilized. Former state representative and County Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, current Commission Chair Lee Pinkoson and City Commissioner Yvonne Hinson-Rawls are among the elected leaders who have contributed. Interim School Superintendent Hershel Lyons has joined the group, and businesses including Oelrich Construction and Paradigm Properties as well as civic organizations such as United Way of North Central Florida, Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County and the Gainesville Women’s Club have also contributed.
Foxx emphasized that there is still great need in the community, and she encourages others to be engaged in the solution.
“We want to make sure thatall of the children in Alachua County have the enhanced opportunities and local jobs that Internet use affords,” she said. “If we can get the children living in homes with very low incomes connected, they at least have a chance to break the crippling cycle of poverty so many of them experience — especially on the east side of town.”