Washington DC's low-income households are routinely offered slower internet plans

An investigation by The Markup reveals rampant disparities when it comes to internet service for marginalized communities in major U.S. cities, including Washington DC. People in lower-income, historically redlined neighborhoods are routinely paying the same price for slower internet service as what residents in higher-income areas pay for higher-speed internet, the analysis found. Digital discrimination harms populations that already face systemic inequalities, particularly when it comes to accessing remote learning and job opportunities, Axios' Alayna Alvarez reports. In DC — where The Markup analyzed internet service by Verizon — nearly twice as many households in low-income neighborhoods are offered slower internet packages than those in wealthier communities, the investigation shows. Thirty-two percent of lower-income neighborhoods in DC were given slow internet plans, compared to 13 percent of higher-income areas.