ByQuinci LeGardye, California Black Media
A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, California legislators are making strides toward addressing and alleviating systemic inequalities brought to light during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To that end, several bills have been introduced in the state Legislature regarding the digital divide that persists in disadvantaged communities, fueled by a lower rate of internet access.
When important parts of life for most Americans moved online during the state’s stay-at-home orders in Spring 2020, including remote work, telehealth, and online school, the existence of a racial digital divide became apparent.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 81% of African American households and 79% of Latino households had broadband internet subscriptions, compared to the statewide average of 84%. The report also found that 26% of K-12 students and nearly 40% of low-income students did not have reliable internet access in Fall 2020.
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A Timeline of California’s Efforts to Equalize Access to the Internet
By Quinci LeGardye, California Black Media
Published April 1, 2021
In Aug. 2020, after the switch to online learning brought the digital divide to the forefront, Gov. Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to accelerate their efforts to provide high-speed internet (courtesy image)
To that end, several bills have been introduced in the state Legislature regarding the digital divide that persists in disadvantaged communities, fueled by a lower rate of internet access.\
When important parts of life for most Americans moved online during the state’s stay-at-home orders in Spring 2020, including remote work, telehealth and online school, the existence of a racial digital divide became apparent. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 81 % of African American households and 79 % of Latino households had broadband internet subscriptions, compared to the statewide average of 84 %