Pandemic Shines a Light on Digital Divide

Associate Professor Colin Rhinesmith’s research on broadband access, wireless hotspot lending, and digital equity has new relevance and importance in light of the pandemic. “The most relevant work I’ve done is around the cost of broadband internet access,” says Rhinesmith. “Affordability is a big issue right now as many people are forced to be at home and get online, and a lot of people are also losing their jobs.” These issues are not impacting everyone equally — communities of color have experienced greater negative consequences from the pandemic. For those same communities, the cost of broadband access makes working online prohibitive. With the closure of many public libraries, access to reliable internet is further limited, increasing the “digital divide.” Rhinesmith’s work has been cited in recent efforts to bring attention to the problems of affordability of broadband and to what public libraries and other institutions are doing to promote digital equity. Rhinesmith recently participated in a webinar, sponsored by the University of Illinois extension, the Illinois Office of Broadband, and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, to share his research on digital inclusion and broadband adoption.