POSTED ON MAY 26, 2020
Key Points
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the significant deficits with connectivity and equity of access in New Jersey. For a robust recovery, we must successfully bridge the digital divide for all of New Jersey, especially our most vulnerable residents. Doing so requires the following:
- Improve broadband infrastructure to address connectivity issues in urban and rural areas, and to assure all community anchors such as libraries, government buildings, healthcare offices, and schools have a minimum of 1Gbps Internet access speed.
- Advocate for reduced rates from Internet Service Providers and for the development of need-based government subsidies to provide affordable internet options for all residents
- Develop additional capacity to support free WIFI at least 1Gbps Internet access speed through a network of community anchors such as libraries, government buildings, healthcare offices, and schools.
- Address technology gaps by providing internet capable equipment to those without, including providing funding for lendable equipment such as laptops and WIFI hotspots.
- Provide access to robust digital and informational literacy training for all New Jersey residents.
While the Digital Divide has been a critical issue dividing the state and communities for decades, COVID-19 has increased the impact and visibility of this issue for New Jersey residents. Online schooling, remote work situations, access to state government services including unemployment and other essential services that all require a high-speed Internet connection, which is not possible for many New Jersey residents.
This issue affects all residents across the state, especially in urban and rural areas, and will now be exacerbated as many people are finding themselves unemployed and unable to pay for internet service. Even locations that were refuges for those without hi-speed broadband access to the internet, such as public libraries, schools and coffee shops, are now unavailable to our most vulnerable residents. With so many New Jersey residents feeling the economic impact of COVID-19, increased remote working and online schooling, now is the time to invest in addressing this issue to help our residents.
In New Jersey, as in many states, the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that the digital divide is not a straight line drawn based on where telecommunications lines have been laid. The true digital divide zig-zags across our state impacting those without access to telecommunications services and those without the necessary equipment or expertise to make use of such services.
As so many have learned, a smart phone will not meet the needs of those working from home or those trying to learn from home. The continuous push towards online services for banking, receiving unemployment, applying for jobs, accessing healthcare, refilling prescriptions and accessing government services has not been met with an increase in support for those expected to access these services. Closing the digital divide requires much more than laying fiber and making telecommunications services affordable, although those are certainly critical first steps.
According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey data 511,354 New Jersey households lack access to broadband, and 47% of New Jersey households with incomes below $20,000, and 39.53% of those with incomes between $20,000 and $49,999, did not have an Internet subscription at all.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration data from 2017 reveals that 121,251 households, 16.7%, of New Jersey residents did not utilize the internet in their homes because service was too expensive. With the COVID-19 economic downturn, we can expect this rate to increase. Furthermore, there is little to no data on the number of NJ residents that have Internet within their homes but lack the necessary bandwidth, digital literacy expertise, and/or home equipment to support online learning and work from home activities simultaneously.
The current crisis has created momentum for addressing this issue, from proposed legislation to the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is critical this momentum continues to find solutions to this long standing issue.
New Jersey’s Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. has joined with Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina in introducing the Connect All Americans to Affordable Broadband Internet Plan. This plan has been developed to be included in a future COVID-19 response package.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic now plaguing our nation, our urgency to ensure all Americans have access to affordable, high-speed broadband internet has only increased,” said Chairman Pallone. “This proposal will create good paying jobs and guarantee that no community is left behind in the digital economy. These investments are especially important for our children who rely on remote-learning, patients using telehealth, and many low-income and rural Americans who currently lack access to reliable internet service.” 1
The FCC also recognizes the importance of this issue with the recent Keep Americans Connected Initiative. Funding through the Connect America Fund has been made available to increase rural broadband access. Chairman Ajit Pai stated:
“One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned during my time at the Federal Communications Commission is that there is a digital divide in this country—between those who have access to cutting edge communications services and those who do not. As I stated in my first public remarks as Chairman, I believe one of the FCC’s top priorities going forward should be to close that divide. I am committed to doing what I can to ensure that all Americans benefit from the bounty of the digital age.” 2
Providing access to broadband internet is a critical element to help New Jersey residents, but this must also be combined with an investment in digital literacy to address digital inequity. Our residents must have the opportunity to learn the skills to have an advantage in the information age. An act like the Digital Equity Act, S.1167, introduced by Senator Patty Murphy of Washington, would help address this need. Senator Murphy states:
“We must also invest in the students, families, and workers that will use that connection. That means making sure that individuals and communities have the tools, the skills, and the support they need to fully take advantage of a broadband connection when they have access to one — and when they lack access to a reliable broadband connection, to provide the resources and technical assistance necessary to help them get connected. Put another way: it is not sufficient to only invest in building roads and highways — a highway isn’t much use without having access to a car, or knowing how to safely drive.” 3
The LibraryLinkNJ Task Force on Post COVID-19 Alignment, Trends & Strategies supports these existing efforts and any upcoming future efforts to ensure our residents have access to affordable and free broadband internet access along with the tools and training required to take advantage of these opportunities in New Jersey. For economic recovery, New Jerseyans working from home, beginning new careers, and starting new businesses require broadband access. Without a considerable commitment to closing the digital divide and digital equity gap in New Jersey, the impact of the economic disruption of COVID-19 will last far longer for our residents.
Libraries are currently a critical resource for providing free access to the internet in our communities, and would welcome being part of the solution for our residents with increased investment in infrastructure and access to service.
The solution for any long standing issue is unlikely to be solved by any one option. The solution would include the following goals:
- Improve the technology infrastructure in New Jersey to address connectivity issues in urban and rural areas
- Advocate for reduced rates from Internet Service Providers and for the development of need-based government subsidies to provide affordable internet options for all residents
- Invest to assure all community anchors such as libraries, government buildings, healthcare offices, and schools have a minimum of 1Gbps Internet access
- Invest to develop additional capacity to support free WIFI at least 1Gbps Internet access through a network of community anchors such as libraries, government buildings, healthcare offices, and schools
- Develop a WIFI Locator tool, accessible by internet and by phone, to allow New Jersey residents to easily find free WIFI spots in their area
- Address technology gap by providing internet capable equipment to those without, including providing funding for lendable equipment including laptops and WIFI hotspots
- Provide access to robust digital and informational literacy training for all New Jersey residents, including a required curriculum for students K-12 (A248) taught by skilled professionals and funding for training of adults and seniors through local libraries, community colleges and human services departments
Until the above goals are achieved, New Jersey and its communities will continue to be defined by inequity of opportunity. We realize these goals can not be met tomorrow, but it is imperative that we start the conversation to begin to address this challenge today in order to make in-roads towards improved statewide digital equity for New Jersey residents and businesses.
An investment today would pay dividends in the COVID-19 environment, and for years to come. The New Jersey economy and the welfare of our residents will rise together if we can address these critical issues in our state.
Taskforce on Post COVID-19 Alignment, Trends & Strategies (TOPCATS), May 26, 2020
Sources:
1 Office of Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (2020). Pallone, Clyburn, and 10 House Dems Announce Plan to Connect All Americans to Affordable Broadband Internet [Press release]. April 30. Available at: https://energycommerce.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pallone-clyburn-and-10-house-dems-announce-plan-to-connect-all-americans-to. (Accessed: May 26, 2020).
2 Office of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. Statement of Chairman Ajit Pai regarding Connect America Fund; ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 14-58. Available at: FCC-17-2A2.pdf. (Accessed: May 26, 2020).
3 Murray, P. (2019). “Why We Need the Digital Equity Act”. Medium. April 11, 2019. Available at: https://medium.com/@PattyMurray/why-we-need-the-digital-equity-act-bce13eed8345. (Accessed: May 26, 2020).