The document addresses the issue of digital equity in urban areas, highlighting the significant barriers faced by specific demographics in accessing the internet, including costs and digital literacy. It explores successful models from various cities, such as New York and Chicago, that have implemented innovative strategies to improve broadband access and digital literacy. The document emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and understanding local needs to bridge the digital divide effectively.

1. Closing the Divide:
How Cities Can
Promote Digital Equity

2. SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW
Present some information…
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

3. SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW
Present some information…Learn from you…
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

4. SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW
Present some information…Learn from you…Walk away with next steps!
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

5. SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW
Present some information…Learn from you…Walk away with next steps!
1. Scope of Problem and Assumptions
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

6. SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW
Present some information…Learn from you…Walk away with next steps!
1. Scope of Problem and Assumptions
2. Models
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

7. SESSION GOALS & OVERVIEW
Present some information…Learn from you…Walk away with next steps!
1. Scope of the Problem and Assumptions
2. Models
3. Problem Solving Discussion
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

8. THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
1 in 4 households
in the United States are
without home Internet
access.
Barriers:
Cost
Relevancy
Digital Literacy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

9. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Internet
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Characteristic
of Householders
Households
with no Internet
Use at home
65 years and older 43.2%
Black alone 38.1%
Hispanic (of any race) 35.7%
Less than high school graduate 60.7%
24% of households making less than $30K do not go
online.

10. Sometimes me and my mom would
go just to the parking lot at
McDonalds and use the WiFi to do
and get what I needed to get done.
Darriale Bradley,
Junior, Southwest High
(Macon, GA)

11. ASSUMPTIONS: MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Opportunities
• Can serve as gateway to digital
citizenship
• Increasingly critical part of online
lives
• Mobile-only users more likely to
be low-income, less educated,
African American, or Latino
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

12. ASSUMPTIONS: MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Opportunities
• Can serve as gateway to digital
citizenship
• Increasingly important part of online
lives
• Mobile-only users more likely to be
low-income, less educated, African
American, or Latino
Limitations
• User interface ill suited for
some key activities
• Download/upload can be
hindered by speed
• Data usage caps discourage
online exploration
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

13. ASSUMPTIONS: MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Political and Economic Activities Less
Connected
Home
Broadband
Difference
Use Internet to visit local, state, or federal government website 57% 79% -22%
Use Internet to get information from a government agency on
health/safety
35% 54% -19%
Use Internet to get information or apply for job 45% 60% -15%
Use Internet to take a class for credit toward a degree 12% 24% -12%
Use Internet for online banking 35% 70% -35%
Use Internet to get local or community news 55% 80% -25%
Use Internet to get national or international news 52% 77% -25%
Note: Reported frequencies are weighted. Sample based on the 3,477 respondents who use the Internet. 2009 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Survey of 5,000 respondents
nationwide. Less connected = dial up Internet or no Internet at home, including individuals with mobile access only.
Source: Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C., & Franko, W. (2013). Mobile Access and the Less-Connected. In Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity (p. 74). New York, NY:
Oxford University Press.

14. ASSUMPTIONS: MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Political and Economic Activities Less
Connected
Home
Broadband
Difference
Use Internet to visit local, state, or federal government website 57% 79% -22%
Use Internet to get information from a government agency on
health/safety
35% 54% -19%
Use Internet to get information or apply for job 45% 60% -15%
Use Internet to take a class for credit toward a degree 12% 24% -12%
Use Internet for online banking 35% 70% -35%
Use Internet to get local or community news 55% 80% -25%
Use Internet to get national or international news 52% 77% -25%
Note: Reported frequencies are weighted. Sample based on the 3,477 respondents who use the Internet. 2009 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Survey of 5,000 respondents
nationwide. Less connected = dial up Internet or no Internet at home, including individuals with mobile access only.
Source: Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C., & Franko, W. (2013). Mobile Access and the Less-Connected. In Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity (p. 74). New York, NY:
Oxford University Press.

15. ASSUMPTIONS: PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Opportunities
• Free
• Training and assistance
• Locations across city
• 44% of households below poverty
line report using computers or the
Internet at a public library
• Youth and minorities are among
most frequent public access users
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

16. ASSUMPTIONS: PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Limitations
• Hours of business
• Staff capacity
• Wait time
• Duration of time slot
Opportunities
• Free
• Training and assistance
• Locations across city
• 44% of households below poverty
line report using computers or the
Internet at a public library
• Youth and minorities are among
most frequent public access users
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

17. MODEL: NEW YORK CITY, NY
City has leveraged existing assets
and institutions in unique ways,
particularly through Digital
Roadmap
• BTOP funded digital literacy and
home broadband adoption
initiatives anchored to NYC
Department of Education
• New York Public Library
• Mobile Tech Van
• WiFi in phone booths

18. MODEL: CHICAGO, IL
Chicago Tech Plan
• Access and adoption understood
as critical to Chicago’s future in
global, tech-driven economy
• Place-based orientation informed
by evidence from Smart
Communities BTOP-funded pilot
• Goal of increasing options for
low-cost broadband

19. MODEL: WILSON, NC
Greenlight Community
Broadband
• Network launched in 2008
• Borrowed $33 million to build the
network
• Internet-only packages range
from $39.95 to $154.95 per
month
• Serves 7,000 of 50,000 residents

20. MODEL: San Leandro, CA
Lit San Leandro
• October 17, 2011 - San Leandro
City Council approved a license
agreement allowing installation
of a fiber optic loop
• March 2, 2012 - Lit San Leandro
went live.
• Won a $2.1 million federal grant
to expand its network for
businesses

21. BEST PRACTICES
1. Understand your city’s needs and valuable assets.
2. Build community-wide coalitions with a diverse set of
stakeholders.
3. Collaborate with other municipalities in your metro area.
4. Constantly think of sustainability.
5. Develop plans that keep in mind the needs of your most
vulnerable populations.
6. Neighborhood context is critical.
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

22. DISCUSSION
• What assets and tools do cities have (dark fiber,
institutions like libraries, etc.)?
• How are we integrating broadband adoption in our
economic development plans?
• How do we make sure our initiatives are sustainable?
@everyone_one / @DigEquity / @DeborahAcosta1

23. CONTACT US
Sheila Dugan
EveryoneOn.org / @everyone_on / sheila@everyoneon.org
Anne Schwieger
DigitalEquityProject.com / @DigEquity / anne@digitalequityproject.com
Deborah Acosta
SanLeandroNext.com / @DeborahAcosta1 / dacosta@sanleandro.org