The stark disparity across internet access in the US

Sacramento and Seattle are the best cities in the US when it comes to digital and internet equity, offering more widely available and affordable internet access than other major cities in the US, according to a new analysis by the non-profit United Way of the National Capital Area (NCA). Research by the Federal Communications Commission finds that 19 million Americans – approximately 6% of the country’s population – lack access to fixed broadband service at threshold speeds. The average cost of broadband varies widely across the country: in some cities, the average internet package costs less than $60 a month, while in places like Las Vegas and Baltimore, it costs upwards of $80 per month. While cities work to make home internet more affordable, they can also work to increase the availability of free public Wi-Fi, at libraries and at hotspots. New York and Los Angeles are tied for the highest number of public libraries with free Wi-Fi, though Daytona Beach and Bridgeport have the highest number of libraries per capita. There are other efforts cities and states are taking too. The Seattle Public Library, as well as states like California and Colorado, have programs to provide discounts on internet packages to low-income households. Overall, there is a clear correlation between cities actively working to tackle digital inequality and cities with a high proportion of digital access.