{"id":43434,"date":"2023-01-03T17:09:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T01:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/?p=43434"},"modified":"2023-01-03T17:10:32","modified_gmt":"2023-01-04T01:10:32","slug":"how-state-and-local-government-can-help-close-the-digital-divide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/about-gov\/education\/how-state-and-local-government-can-help-close-the-digital-divide\/","title":{"rendered":"How State and Local Government Can Help Close the Digital Divide"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.17.3″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/1.jpeg” custom_margin=”||91px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”223px|0px|118px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”72″ text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” custom_margin=”45px||24px|-69px” custom_padding=”0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]How State and Local Government Can Help Close the Digital Divide<\/strong>
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-88px|||||” custom_padding=”3px|0px|24.6719px|0px||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”0||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/1602647863539.jpg” title_text=”1602647863539″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||5px|||” animation=”off” sticky=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]APRIL MILLER<\/a><\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px||60px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]April Miller is a senior technology writer at ReHack Magazine. She is particularly passionate about sharing her expertise with people in professions such as government and education, helping them implement technology into their professional lives to increase their productivity, efficiency and personal enjoyment of their work.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.3″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”||14px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury but an essential part of everyday life for all Americans. You might think everyone can easily access the internet, but that\u2019s far from the truth. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 19 million U.S. citizens lack access<\/a>, creating what is coined \u201cthe digital divide.\u201d<\/p>\n

The disparity between people with and without broadband access is fueled by affordability, accessibility or availability, and lack of skills to use the internet properly. Can state and local governments help close the digital divide throughout the country?<\/p>\n

The Digital Divide: An Ongoing Issue<\/h4>\n

When cellphones were first introduced, there was a digital divide between new owners and those who did not invest in the technology.<\/p>\n

As the tech advanced, it became clear that buying expensive consumer electronics was only possible for those with extra money in their bank accounts. It\u2019s a much different picture than what we experience today.<\/p>\n

People use technology for pretty much everything, including health care, entertainment, food delivery and shopping. People use their phones to accomplish way more than people in the 2000s could imagine, from booking airfare and transportation<\/a> (46%) to finding fun things to do (70%).<\/p>\n

Additionally, people wouldn\u2019t be able to access life-saving information about COVID-19 from their local officials, work or participate in school remotely, or receive critical telehealth services without internet access. Phones can be used for trivial reasons, but there are also many vital ones in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

Where Does the Digital Divide Exist?<\/h4>\n

The digital divide exists between<\/a>:<\/p>\n