Intricacies Of The Digital Divide The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) coined the phrase the “digital divide” in a 1998 report.6 It found that while Internet access via computer continued to penetrate households nationwide, trends as to who was and was not able to get online were heavily influenced by race, income, and other demographics.7 As the digital divide became an eventual fixture in communities of all sizes and geographies, it transitioned from being a term of art for government agencies to one that has been adopted into dictionaries, research, and encyclopedias in various forms. Merriam-Webster defines the digital divide as “the economic, educational, and social inequalities between those who have computers and online access and those who do not.”8 The Cambridge Dictionary characterizes it as a “problem,” stating that some members of society do not have the opportunity or knowledge to use computers and the internet that others have.9 Important context that has yet to be captured in any definition is that the digital divide is a man-made construct that may take as long to dismantle as it did to create. Definitions for digital equity also vary. In essence, it refers to an approach, informs how digital divides should be addressed, and is based on a foundational belief that every person – regardless of income or geography – should not only have reliable access to highspeed connectivity but also the tools to benefit from advances in technology. Achieving digitally equitable outcomes requires a combination of remedial programs and forward-looking public policies. As long as digital inequities prevent residents from being able to achieve full participation 6
“Falling through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide,” National Telecommunications and Information Administration, accessed April 1, 2022, https://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2.
7
Ibid.
8
“Digital Divide Definition & Meaning,” Merriam-Webster (Merriam-Webster), accessed April 1, 2022, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digital%20divide.
9
Ibid.
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs | Harvard Kennedy School
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