Home broadband critical to education in Alabama

[Commentary] The future of my community – and of communities all across the region – hinges on our ability to arm every student with the tools needed to compete and thrive in this brave new economic world. All students, regardless of race or income, must have access to a basic toolkit of digital skills and capabilities, starting most fundamentally with access to the Internet and a fluency in its use. This is a steep hill to climb. Currently, African Americans households are 12% less likely than white households to have access to the Internet at home, while poor families are 30% less likely to have a home connection than those making $50,000 or more.

The Obama Administration’s new ConnectHome pilot program, another effort to boost broadband adoption in low-income households, is mirroring the successful model of private-civic partnerships pioneered by Internet Essentials. The digital divide is a solvable problem; we have a proven model that works. It’s now time for public and private sector leaders to scale this effort to match the urgency of the challenge.

[State Rep. Laura Hall is president of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women]