Bridging connectivity and embracing equity

Access to the internet is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must-have. From access to education and healthcare to connecting with loved ones and innovation economies around the world, our society is dependent on connectivity.

Yet despite tremendous progress in recent years, approximately 1 out of 5 American households are still disconnected from the digital world. 

Ensuring digital equity is about enabling access to more than just information. It also represents access to fulfill one’s full potential and dreams, present and future. Achieving equity will require a holistic plan for availability, affordability, adoption, and literacy and skill development.

Ensuring affordable access to the internet and equipment, as well as the skills needed to navigate the digital world, represents the crucial first steps to closing the divide that still separates us — and creating a more equitable future for all. 

Education

Events in the past few years have underscored the importance of high speed internet access, especially at home. Not only do students rely on the internet to submit their homework assignments, they also need it to conduct research and connect with other students and faculty members. 

To address challenges faced by some communities, AT&T has set up Connected Learning Centers to expand access to essential connectivity services and devices, and drive digital literacy and adoption through education tools, tutoring, and mentoring support.

But that’s just a start. In the not too distant future, some classes may even be conducted in the metaverse, where students can interact with one another using avatars and AR/VR devices to provide for a more immersive digital experience. Those who lack consistent broadband access at home will risk falling behind, leaving these communities with an even wider digital divide. Similarly, for those who are working and want to update their skillsets, reliable and affordable internet connectivity can open a new world of opportunities.

Healthcare

Healthcare is another area that can benefit greatly from digital equity. Telehealth services can expand access to care any time and anywhere, providing crucial support for those who live in rural areas that are far away from healthcare facilities. This can also reduce visits to doctors’ offices and hospitals, while lowering costs and improving patient care.

Businesses and local economies

Universal broadband also enables workers from anywhere to tap into different opportunities around the world, regardless of where they live. This is particularly critical in times when businesses are facing talent shortages: having access to a wider pool of skilled workers can help foster more sustained long-term economic growth.

More importantly, ensuring digital connectivity, especially for small businesses in underrepresented communities, can help connect them to the wider digital economy and consumer marketplace, bringing in sales and creating new jobs to help local economies prosper.

Farming communities also stand to benefit from high-quality internet connectivity. Monitoring and sensing applications can provide real-time data on soil nutrient levels, enabling targeted applications of fertilizer, for example, to increase crop yield. Beyond getting access to the marketplace to sell their products, farmers can also comparison shop for crop supplies and equipment beyond their local suppliers, or obtain credit to sustain or expand their businesses.

Digital inclusion plays a crucial role in financial inclusion. This is especially true as financial institutions are reducing their physical footprint to reduce costs, creating “banking deserts” in which there are no physical branches located within 10 miles of a community’s center. 

The great equalizer

Talent can be found everywhere, but opportunities are not. From rural areas where coverage and affordability are challenging, to urban communities where digital literacy is uneven, broadband can act as the great equalizer. It is akin to the adoption and widespread use of electricity 100 years ago — a necessity to bridge the divide and empower communities with equal opportunities.

The existing gap will only grow if we do not address these issues now. To partake in the internet of the future will require not only affordable connectivity, but also equitable access to devices and digital literacy.

“Connectivity is at our core. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformative change to millions of Americans by narrowing the digital divide and bringing broadband’s benefits to more and more people.  We have the necessary ingredients – the resources, employee expertise and will – to help our nation realize the Internet’s social and economic benefits.” John Stankey, CEO

Bridging the digital divide benefits everyone — individuals and businesses alike. From those who own the pipes to those who move money, we all have a role to play towards digital equity. A world of opportunity awaits.

This post was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent AT&T Business’s positions or strategies.