IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

Discover how San José is closing the digital divide and transforming lives through its smart city projects. From enhancing education to revitalizing commerce, explore the impact of these transformative initiatives.

Imagine a city where every corner, every street, and every home is seamlessly connected. In San José, this vision is fast becoming a reality, thanks to a series of ambitious smart city projects aimed at not only enhancing wireless connectivity but also at transforming lives, especially those of its most vulnerable citizens. As a journalist who has seen countless initiatives rise and fall, the depth and impact of San José's commitment to digital inclusivity struck a chord, compelling me to dive deeper into this transformative journey.

IoT solutions will expand community wi-fi and smart city solutions will be used to address critical issues and help make San José one of the most innovative cities in Silicon Valley.

The city of San José is extending its partnership with AT&T to help close the digital divide and use smart city solutions to help address some of the critical issues facing the community.

Three Los Angeles departments recently announced a joint plan to tackle the digital divide with a focus on IT upskilling, digital literacy through library technology and remote digital accessibility utilizing the public park system.

In a world so intricately spurred by evolving tech innovation, those without reliable Internet access or technological resources face significant disadvantages. Limited access to the Internet, digital devices such as computers, and even the knowledge necessary to utilize new technology hinder individuals' ability to pursue educational opportunities, find employment, access health-care services and engage in civic participation.

The solution to the digital divide is not more broadband, but persuading non-users to join the Internet society

The “digital divide” is back in the news, with both Democratic presidential candidates and incumbent government officials promising billions to provide high-speed Internet to millions of Americans in rural areas who don’t currently have access to it at home.

The digital divide, however, is not exclusively or even most significantly a rural problem. Due to inaccurate coverage maps, it is difficult to know where specifically access is lacking. But we know from regular Census Bureau surveys that three times as many households in urban areas remain unconnected as in rural areas. And regardless of geography, access isn’t the main reason these homes are without Internet service. The vast majority of U.S. homes without broadband service could have it today, but they don’t want it. The real problem is convincing those who are offline of the value of being part of our digital life.

As broadband expansion efforts increase nationwide, digital equity advocates are working to ensure that urban communities are included. New federal funding opportunities are adding fuel to these efforts.

Urban communities face unique challenges in effectively gaining broadband access, which primarily involve affordability and literacy.

With the continuing rise of digital inclusion efforts nationwide, advocates are working hard to fill the gaps in rural communities through partnerships and other measures. And as government agencies plan for federal broadband distribution opportunities, there are steps to take to ensure digital inclusion efforts reach urban communities, those working in the space contend.

Like many public school districts with limited resources, Duncanville ISD officials had to think creatively to tackle the digital divide amid the pandemic.

Duncanville Independent School District, based in Duncanville, Texas, recently utilized four school buses outfitted with Internet transmitters as part of its “Wi-Fi on Wheels” initiative to provide access to families without reliable service.

With the recent successes of Elon Musk's company SpaceX, satellite Internet has become a "sexy" new technology. Experts, though, advise against thinking that it is the sole solution to besting the digital divide.

Although satellite Internet technology has advanced far beyond its initial capabilities, some experts have advised that the emerging broadband solution still has limitations that local and state stakeholders should consider.

Federal broadband programs tend to assist rural areas because rural areas often lack a broadband option. A new report indicates this policy approach has unfortunate implications for non-white citizens without Internet.

A new National Digital Inclusion Alliance report argues that the federal government’s policy framework for broadband funding is “structurally racist, discriminating against unconnected Black Americans and other communities of color.”

National broadband expert and independent consultant John Horrigan suggested in a Board of Experts of a recent California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) meeting that the public and private sector stop using the phrase “digital divide,” arguing that the issue is less about access to hardware and more about the skills to use them.

Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot recently announced the formation of the Chicago Digital Equity Council, a multi-sector, community-driven endeavour to better understand and address the nuances of digital equity and permanently close Chicago’s digital gap. “That’s why we have mobilised City funding to close the digital divide and improve internet access in our most vulnerable communities.”

She added that closing gaps in technology and learning tools will benefit their entire community and will help to assist the next generation of digitally empowered Chicagoans, adding that one of her top priorities is to provide residents with the tools they need to reach their full potential.

Boston Consulting Group, Common Sense Media and the Southern Education Foundation issued a report last month about the big picture of digital inequity in education, as well as potential solutions.

As many of the nation’s pupils close in on a year of virtual remote learning, public policy analysts are highlighting the scope of the digital divide and ways in which policymakers can close it.

A city-led initiative to smash the digital divide in Covington by expanding access to free, public Wi-Fi has been named one of the 50 most transformative “smart” projects in the world.

To date, almost half of Covington residents have signed up for public Wi-Fi through what’s called “Covington Connect,” and it already has hosted more than 780,000 online sessions with an average duration of over an hour.

This week, the collaborative project unveiled during the start of the pandemic was recognized by Smart Cities Connect at the 5th Annual Smart 50 Award Gala in Columbus, Ohio.

The mayor’s view is that broadband should be treated as “essential public infrastructure” that is managed and maintained for the benefit of all residents.

Baltimore is seeking to eliminate the city’s digital and broadband divide within the next decade by building open-access fibre infrastructure all across the city.

The City reports nearly 100,000 city households face barriers to internet access at home – exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some 12,600 residents are within a half-mile walking distance of the five parks featured in the pilot programme, which aims to expand internet accessibility.

The City of Detroit has completed the roll-out of its wifi in the park pilot project, which aims to expand internet accessibility and bridge the digital divide.

Detroit residents and park visitors can now access free public wifi at Bradby, Chandler, Clark, McDuffy and Palmer Parks. About 12,600 residents are within a half-mile walking distance of the five parks featured in the pilot programme.

An innovative solution will bring high-speed Wi-Fi to all New York City residents.

Cities are now dotted with myriad sensors and digital devices. Besides traditional traffic and security cameras, many cities have sensors to detect gunfire and still other devices to monitor vacated parking spots. As this network of digital, Internet-connected devices (i.e., the Internet of Things) grows, city officials are finding new ways to repurpose and incorporate more traditional assets.

The plan calls for making $18-per-month home internet available to Clevelanders.

Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration is tapping a local nonprofit and a national telecom firm to expand high-speed internet in Cleveland.

Bibb is asking City Council to slate $20 million in federal stimulus funds for Digital C, the nonprofit wireless internet provider. That money would help Digital C expand its reach to offer $18-per-month high-speed internet to all Clevelanders.

Bridging Cleveland’s ‘digital divide’ was one of the key tenants of Mayor Justin Bibb’s campaign. This week, he unveiled one of the first steps in accomplishing that goal. The city is now seeking proposals from potential partners on how to best bring affordable, high-quality broadband services to some of its digital deserts.

Released on Thursday, the city’s request for proposals (RFP) broadly outlines the intended goals of Mayor Bibb’s digital adoption and affordable access initiatives. In the short term, the two-phased approach aims to provide affordable internet access to every home in Cleveland and with speeds that match consumer demand. Long term, the city’s digital equity initiatives include the possibility of making high-speed fiber-optic internet access available to all city residents.

The internet's growth in the past two decades has reshaped how Americans live — how we communicate, how we shop, how we consume information and how we enjoy entertainment. But too many people find themselves on the outside of this digital revolution.

Unfortunately, one of the populations with the most to gain from the internet, older adults, is the least likely to be connected.

The City of Philadelphia has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to rapidly quantify the number of households that are without internet connectivity or relying on unstable, low-bandwidth options.

The RFP, issued with non-profit the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia, seeks to enable the city to benchmark its progress on closing the digital divide and inform the next phase of policy, programme and budget decisions.

Some may question whether digital inclusion is merely an unnecessary luxury for entertainment and personal communication. Should we really care whether low-income children and adults can access Facebook or YouTube?

But with a moment's thought, even casual observers should realize that digital exclusion limits the educational opportunities available to excluded children and adults. And the educational importance of Internet access can only increase in the future as public schools and municipal governments find themselves less and less able to provide wide access to traditional hard-copy educational materials.