Policy & Practice | Summer 2023

technology speaks

By Megan Atchley-Lazalier

Bridging the Digital Divide: Improved Digital Literacy Creates Better Long-Term Outcomes

M ore than 40 million Americans 1 lack broadband access, including more 2 than 22 percent in rural areas and 27 percent on tribal lands. During the pandemic, stories abounded about how the lack of internet service hampered families’ ability to cope, and the consequences of being discon nected persist today. The federal government is taking steps to bridge the digital divide and provide all Americans with dependable internet access. The American Rescue Plan offers more than $25 billion for high-speed internet infrastructure and adoption; the bipartisan infrastructure law dedicates another $65 billion for access, plus $73 billion in grants to help individuals and families cover the monthly cost of internet service. And the Digital Equity Act 3 provides $2.75 billion in grants for states, territories, and tribal governments to implement digital equity projects. But ensuring internet access and affordability is only half the challenge of closing the digital divide. The other half is providing users with the skills they need to take advantage of new opportunities. Although technology is pervasive in today’s world, 60 percent 4 of Americans cannot answer basic digital literacy questions. “Digital literacy” is much more than being able to use smart phones or social media; it means having the skills to live, learn, and work in a society where jobs require knowledge of and comfort with computers; access to information and services is depen dent on digital familiarity; and being prepared to protect against online risks,

such as fraud, identity theft, and mis information. Even young Americans, born in the digital age, are not immune 5 to digital literacy issues. Simply having a job is not always enough to provide for one’s family. Employers’ expectations for entry-level workers are increasing. A new report from the National Skills Coalition found that 92 percent 6 of jobs now require digital skills. The report also found that “strong demand for digital skills [exists] across every industry…and in almost every occupation, including entry-level and frontline positions,” dispropor tionately affecting workers of color, individuals with low income, and rural residents because of historical underin vestment and structural inequities. Those lacking digital literacy are consequently disqualified from gainful employment and other opportunities.

While the U.S. unemployment rate is just 3.5 percent, 7 underemployment— people who are unwillingly working in low-skill and low-paying jobs or only part time because they cannot get full-time jobs that use their skills—is almost twice as high, 8 at 6.6 percent, and more than 37 million Americans live in poverty. 9 Those underemployed with low-wage jobs face the most significant obstacles to upskilling due to cost, inflexible work hours, limited free time, and employers less likely to invest in learning oppor tunities. This lack of opportunity perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as indi viduals cannot gain the skills needed to move into higher-paying jobs. The good news is that there are ways to change the trajectory, and government agencies, working with technology partners, can play a pivotal

Illustration by Chris Campbell

Policy & Practice Summer 2023 40