Keep investing in the American Connectivity Program to bridge the digital divide

As of mid-August 2023, nearly 20 million American households have enrolled for the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – a federal program that’s provided affordable internet to our country’s most vulnerable and enabled them to stand a chance at competing in the quickly digitizing world. However, only a little more than a third of eligible households have enrolled. I launched the Digital Inclusion and Access Taskforce in Nashville (TN) during the pandemic because I saw firsthand the devastating effects the digital divide was having on communities of color. Since then, we’ve made significant progress in getting our neighborhoods the proper resources they need to get connected. However, our work isn’t done. Less than half of Tennesseans who live in Davidson County have reliable internet. Out of almost a hundred thousand eligible households in the Nashville area, only 16% of eligible households have taken advantage of the ACP. Experts estimate that the initial funding approved by Congress for the ACP will run out in early 2024 leaving millions of Americans behind in the digital world. Education is the foundation for a brighter future, and we want to equip our young ones with the tools they need to succeed. We have the opportunity to pave the way for a brighter future, where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential in our rapidly evolving world. Let us seize this moment and work together to build a stronger, more digitally connected Nashville for generations to come.

[Dr. Fallon Wilson is the Co-Founder of the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute and Vice President of the Multicultural Media, Telecom, & Internet Council.]