From Digital Connectivity Plan (released November 2023)
Our vision for a fully connected Georgia is to ensure that every Georgian has reliable and affordable access to the internet along with the necessary tools and skills to unlock opportunities for educational advancement, economic success, improved health, and strengthened social ties. This will create more connected, resilient, and prosperous communities and cultivate an environment across the state where our workforce can thrive, our infrastructure can support growth, and our industries can continue to lead the way.
In that envisioned future, all Georgians will have access to the following five critical elements of digital connectivity:
1. Access to affordable, reliable internet connectivity at home and in their community
2. A computing device and the opportunity to maintain it
3. Opportunity to learn and apply digital skills
4. Tools and practical knowledge for safe online engagement
5. Accessible and usable online government and community resources for all abilities
To achieve this vision, the State of Georgia will adopt the following framework principles for its digital connectivity efforts:
- Targeted impact on key populations for statewide growth: In conjunction with our efforts for statewide broadband expansion, we recognize the need for specialized outreach, support, and investments aimed at “covered populations,” as designated by the Digital Equity Act of 2021. These populations include low-income households, aging populations, incarcerated individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, people with language barriers, racial and ethnic minorities, and rural inhabitants. To optimize impact and ensure efficient use of resources, focused investments will be directed toward initiatives aimed at enabling these populations to participate fully in society and the digital economy. Through this targeted approach, we can nurture thriving, resilient communities throughout Georgia that are conducive to both economic growth and robust full civic participation for all residents.
- Collaborate and strengthen our partnerships: Digital connectivity work will require collaboration and partnerships. Our community, inclusive of members with lived experiences, regional and local governments, ISPs, workforce organizations, philanthropic entities, corporate partners, CAIs, and community-based organizations, will actively partner to solicit ideas, insights, priorities, and lessons learned to strengthen our digital connectivity ecosystem. Together, we will prioritize identifying and addressing gaps to ensure equitable digital access and inclusion across our diverse communities.
- Build on existing achievements and collaborations: As a statewide community, we will leverage and benefit from the efforts of entities that have spent years developing expertise and capabilities in digital connectivity. Rather than attempt to replicate or recreate those capabilities, we will enhance coordination among state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit partners. By sharing timely data, focused support, and helpful resources we aim to align our collective initiatives with established local and regional digital connectivity plans. In this way, the State of Georgia will respect and amplify local and community experience and know-how, working to support its local government and nonprofit partners that have proven capabilities in digital connectivity.
- Prioritize data and rigorous information gathering: Data will be our guide for informed and impactful actions. Through our united community, which includes local and regional governments, state agencies, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector, we recognize the value in using data as a roadmap for effective action. These entities are encouraged to leverage data to make wise investment decisions, focusing funding on the regions and communities that most urgently require digital access and skills. These efforts will be enhanced by continually gathering, synthesizing, and updating data through tools like the Georgia Broadband Map, periodic surveys, and technical assistance. These synthesized data will guide smart investments in addressing digital connectivity gaps in the communities where our covered populations live and interact.
- Smart growth for lasting impact: Our goal is to support the development of programs that can expand and adapt, ensuring that all Georgians, including our covered populations, remain connected. These programs should be designed for long-lasting impact, aligning with our vision of educational advancement, economic success, and community resilience across Georgia. By thinking forward in this Plan, we are laying the groundwork for prosperous and resilient communities throughout our State.
To achieve this vision, the State of Georgia will aim to reduce barriers to digital connectivity to create conditions that enable all Georgians to equitably access and use the internet.
Access to dependable and affordable internet connectivity is a cornerstone for flourishing communities in Georgia. Our data pinpoint areas of particular concern—most notably, regions with high poverty rates and significant gaps in broadband availability and adoption. Lack of reliable internet connectivity in these areas affects overall quality of life and restricts access to opportunities for educational, economic, and health opportunities for everyone, including small businesses that are vital to local economies. Access to affordable and reliable broadband is a major challenge in rural areas, which limits the availability of digital connectivity programs and services. This makes it difficult for community members to access devices, digital skills training, or digital navigators. To ensure equal access to digital resources and opportunities for all, it is essential to establish digital connectivity programs in these areas. However, the establishment of such programs and services will require further assistance. Urban areas also face diverse challenges to digital connectivity. For example, low-income individuals in urban areas may not be able to afford home internet or own a computer, which limits their ability to participate in online learning or access important services and information. To bridge the digital divide and decrease barriers, it is important to collaborate with local leaders who have an extensive knowledge of their community.
It is important to recognize that strategies needed to address the challenges in rural and urban communities may differ. Therefore, working with local leaders is one way to initiate the process and ensure that everyone has equal access to digital resources and opportunities. Through a collective and collaborative effort, we are committed to accelerating progress in these regions. We will draw upon successful frameworks and provide support for initiatives that have been effective in highly connected urban communities, adapting them to meet the unique needs and opportunities of rural Georgia. This ensures that we not only provide immediate solutions but also build a sustainable digital ecosystem that benefits everyone.
The affordability of broadband services and devices are additional barriers. Statewide, 22.3 percent of households are living on income that is no more than 150 percent of the federal poverty threshold. These households may find it difficult to afford the costs of broadband subscriptions and necessary hardware, such as computers or tablets. As a result, individuals in these households face restricted access to online education, job opportunities, and crucial government services. This digital divide limits social mobility and access to the benefits of the digital world.
Additionally, an hourly housing wage of $24.75 is needed to afford basic housing in Georgia. Coupled with the 15.9 percent of Georgians facing severe housing problems and 14.3 percent living below the poverty line, the financial stressors on families are evident. Such families are likely to prioritize housing and food over internet connectivity, despite its importance. Furthermore, the data collected for this Plan show that digital literacy and skills gaps hinder digital connectivity in Georgia. Nearly a quarter of adults (23.6 percent) have low literacy, and child poverty stands at 19.5 percent. These conditions create a dual-faceted challenge. On one hand, low literacy rates hinder people’s ability to interact with essential digital platforms, stunting economic mobility. On the other hand, child poverty not only restricts access to technological devices and broadband but also sets up a home environment where the nurturing of digital skills takes a backseat to more immediate survival needs. This creates a generational cycle of limited digital access and literacy and stifles the long-term potential of our workforce.
The barriers to digital connectivity and affordable access also compromise the ability of Georgians to protect their online security and discern credible information from misinformation. This lack of digital skills leaves individuals susceptible to privacy breaches and exposes them to cyber threats, undermining their full participation in a digital society and economy.
Aging individuals, who make up 20.1 percent of the population, are often hindered by low digital literacy—making them more susceptible to cybersecurity risks and misinformation. English learners, accounting for 5.4 percent of residents, face language barriers that can compound issues of digital literacy. Incarcerated individuals, although only 0.9 percent of the population, face almost insurmountable barriers to digital access and literacy. Their unique circumstances often make them part of the 14.3 percent living below the poverty line, and they are likely to have fewer opportunities for digital literacy training while in correctional facilities.
Addressing these interconnected barriers requires efforts that encompass infrastructure expansion, affordable access, digital skills training, and targeted support for covered populations and underserved communities to ensure that all Georgians can participate fully in the digital economy.