Guest commentary: Low-income students, military households are most at risk in the digital divide
By Chanelle Hawken
As local students have settled back into school, a recent report from the Benton Institute on Broadband & Society highlighted the potential impacts that the end of the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) willhave on bridging the digital divide with lower-income households that relied on ACP monthly subsidies.
Nearly 1 in 5 people surveyed said they would have to cut home internet service now that they can no longer receive financial assistance through the ACP — which provided up to $30/month in subsidies and $75 if you live on Tribal land.
The Benton Institute report found that 50% surveyed said they may have to cancel or downgrade their internet service now that they can no longer take advantage of the ACP.
In California, about 1 in 5 households were enrolled in the ACP and nearly half of all ACP recipients were military households.
These statistics make it clear that Santa Barbara County’s low-income could feel the greatest impact of the digital divide.
As a mother of two school-age children and the wife of a high school teacher, I see firsthand how important it is for students of all ages to be connected.
Studies show that students without an internet connection at home have a harder time than their peers, with roughly 17% unable to complete homework assignments.
Research also points to the impact that the digital divide has on lower-income students setting themselves up for successful college entrance, or even attending college at all.
In fact, students who don’t have home internet have an average 2.81 GPA compared to 3.18 of those who do and without digital skills honed outside of school hours, students have lower ACT and SAT scores, and only 47% plan to attend college.
It’s not enough to just know the statistics.
We as a community — public and private — need to partner to help bring digital equity to people of all ages and ensure the digital playing field is leveled for all students, regardless of their household income.
One way that Cox Communications is utilizing its network, expertise and resources to bridge the digital divide is by offering affordable internet programs designed for lower-income households participating in a government program such as free and reduced school lunch, SNAP, Medicaid, public housing, or other qualifying programs.
Cox works with local schools and nonprofits to help families sign up for Connect2Compete, which provides $9.95 a month in-home wifi for qualifying families with K-12 students, so the children in the family can stay connected once they leave the classroom.
Cox also partners with Partners in Education to help families get connected to refurbished laptops, computers, and other wifi-enabled devices.
Households without school-age children in the home, such as retirees on a fixed income, junior active duty military, or college students supporting themselves can sign up for Cox’s ConnectAssist, which provides $30 a month internet service for qualifying households.
Leveling the digital playing field isn’t just about connecting to the internet. It’s also about knowing how to safely connect.
Digital equity enables students to increase their digital literacy, which could help them stay safer online when they understand how to safely navigate the internet while doing research for their homework, applying for colleges orconnecting with school friends.
A Cox Mobile safety survey found that 1 out of 3 parents said their child had been contacted by a stranger on a mobile device and nearly one-third of those strangers referenced their child’s location.
For some students, the only way they can connect online for school is through their mobile phone, which isn’t the mostideal or safest scenario for their education.
Households are looking for affordable options now that their ACP subsidies are no longer available.
It’s up to public and private entities to collectively ensure that everyone in our community can be active and safe participants in our digital age — especially when school is in session.
Chanelle Hawken is West Region vice president of government and public affairs for Cox Communications.
