New York, NY — Nearly 5 million families in the U.S still do not have access to high-speed internet.
This digital divide between families with access to broadband and technology and those without, is contributing to inequality across a variety of measures. Last month, The New York Times wrote an article detailing the impact it is having on the education sector. 7 in 10 teachers assign homework that requires web access, but 1/3rd of students in low income and rural areas are unable to go online. The impact this has on schools, students falling behind, and future job opportunities is leading to increased efforts by the Federal government to make broadband affordable.
Why it matters:
The digital divide impacts the population who perhaps needs the internet most when it comes to healthcare: lower-income households and the elderly. In our 2016 Digital Trends we mentioned a few examples of what brands are doing to help bridge the divide. It’s a noble social-cause to champion, especially when it means providing access to the wealth of healthcare information online that has become an everyday necessity for many of us.
Check out the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/23/technology/fcc-internet-access-school.html?ref=technology&_cldee=amdpZXJtZWtAZ21haWwuY29t&_r=2
