Closing the digital divide in Black America

The digital divide was first recognized in the mid-1990s. Three decades later, due in part to long-standing economic inequity and the economics of broadband, it remains an impediment to inclusive economic growth, particularly in Black American communities. There are five steps that state and local leaders and broadband stakeholders could take to expand broadband access and promote digital equity and inclusion in Black communities:

1. Make explicit commitments to digital equity and inclusion: As states, cities, and municipalities develop their aspirations and make broadband plans, leaders can promote change by elevating a public commitment to digital inclusion and equity alongside the commitment to expanding high-speed broadband infrastructure coverage. 
2.  Conduct a comprehensive survey of unserved and underserved locations, and ensure the funds reach the communities that need them:  A proper count of unserved locations is therefore the first step toward ensuring that Black communities receive their fair share of funding to close broadband infrastructure gaps, and is necessary for contesting any errors or omissions in the maps.
3. Involve all stakeholders in understanding the underlying barriers to access and digital equity: To gain a deeper understanding of the underlying barriers that cause the digital divide and identify and create solutions to close it, state leaders could get feedback from a range of stakeholders, including impacted residents, local government leaders, not-for-profit leaders, digital-equity and workforce development practitioners, utilities and electric co-ops, ISPs, private-sector companies focused on growing the digital workforce, and multiple others.
4. Partner with local stakeholders to ensure households can access subsidies for internet subscriptions and devices: Federal, state, and local governments could partner with local broadband stakeholders to ensure eligible households are able to take advantage of the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides subsidies for internet service and devices.
5. Seek out partnerships among private enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, academia, and government: Corporations, state and local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and stakeholders in academia—particularly HBCUs—could look for opportunities to partner on initiatives to close the digital divide. These partnerships could include workforce development programs that teach digital skills, develop new talent pools, and provide access to higher-wage jobs.