Every time I shop at a store that asks me to download an app to save money (I’m looking at you Target circle), I wonder about consumers who do not or cannot afford a phone. Statistically, 96% of Americans now have cellphones, but does this mean that access is equal? I don’t think so. Although we can debate whether access to savings only offered through a phone is a right or a privilege, it is becoming increasingly undeniable that online participation is a fact of our human existence. As educators continue to push virtual and remote learning, we need to make sure that ALL children are given their equal right to education. How equal can virtual and remote learning be when:
- 31% of rural Americans do not have access to broadband at home (4 % of urban Americans)
- The majority of consumers do not have a choice in their ISP, meaning they cannot get a competitive rate and are subject to the whims of their providers
- Flat fees mean that lower income people pay a higher percentage of their income for internet as an essential service.
While the USDA is making strides to increase rural broadband, as educators we must be diligent in ensuring we are not asking lower income Americans to pay to have access to educational opportunities that are their right.
Sources:
https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/2018-broadband-deployment-report
https://www.newamerica.org/oti/reports/cost-connectivity-2020/introduction/
https://www.usda.gov/broadband