Perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing low-income families is their inability to afford to stay connected digitally, stalling them in their quest to further their careers and education. Not being able to pay a monthly Internet or data usage plan wasn't always such a hindrance, but events in recent years have complicated the situation immensely.
"The internet has now become a basic utility like electricity," asserts Jefferson Smith, a Portland-based, social entrepreneur who is championing the project. "And just electricity, access to the internet is essential to modern survival. Everything from job listings to education to health care have moved online. 10,000 tablets is about building a bridge across a growing digital divide that ensures everyone makes it across to the other side."
After many careers have slowly shifted to a work-from-home or partially remote setup, the COVID pandemic rapidly accelerated the pace at which employees were expected to rely upon their own fully functional home office. Simultaneously, students as young as kindergarten age were being asked to continue their education on their own electronic devices from the same home setting.
This means that families were suddenly expected to have a reliable internet connection, multiple smartphones, tablets, or computers, and a comprehensive understanding of how to use these devices in order to continue working and learning. Those who had previously relied on hardware and software provided in their offices or at their schools were now unable to do so. This has highlighted just how dramatic the digital divide is in the United States.
"In addition to work moving online, COVID also normalized online education in a way that caught a lot of people off guard," says Vannessa Sherrod, lead organizer for 10,000 Tablets. 'If we want a level playing field when it comes to education in this country, we've got a lot of catching up to do."
How Severe is the Digital Divide?
It is very unusual these days to see an adult without a mobile phone, but according to a recent study, 24% of low-income adults (under $30,000 annually) don't own a smartphone. An even higher percentage, 43%, do not have broadband internet at home. 41% don't even own a desktop or laptop computer; 59% do not own a tablet. A mere 23% have all of the tools necessary to work or learn from home.
How are working adults and school-age children expected to move to a fully-online experience if they cannot afford the basic necessities by which to participate in their jobs and schooling?
By comparison, households with an annual income of over $100,000 have an entirely different experience with technology. 97% own a smartphone, 93% have broadband internet at home, 92% own a computer, and 68% own a tablet. 63% have all of the tools necessary to work or learn from home, without making new purchases.
Even if you remove the use of a tablet or computer, assuming them to be "nice to have," but not necessities, you're asking those of lower incomes to complete all of their daily tasks on their smartphones. In early 2021, 27% of low-income adults relied solely on smartphones as their only means to access the Internet, a number that is unchanged since 2019.
"There are just some practical benefits that tablets have that can't always be accomplished on a smartphone", says Maya von Geldern, Marketing Director for 10,000 Tablets. "Tasks like navigating sites, attaching files, and creating content are significantly more difficult and time-consuming on a phone screen. Not everyone has access to a desktop or laptop computer, let alone dependable WiFi. Tablets give users the power to work or communicate wherever they are."
How Does the Digital Divide Impact Low-Income Households?
With 59% of low-income parents admitting that their children would be unable to complete online school work due to a lack of Internet access, lack of computer, or lack of a smartphone, it's easy to see that these children would be excluded from a traditional education.
According to The Hechinger Report in 2021, 28.2 million U.S. households lack high-speed Internet at home. While up to 33% of these homes are not equipped for high-speed internet, the remaining 67% are simply unable to afford the monthly bill associated with the service.
Because workplaces and schools have typically supplied access to reliable Internet, hardware, and software, this means that it is not an inability to use technology that is holding low-income families back; it is finances alone.
"People with economic challenges certainly understand the Internet - and its importance - they just need access and opportunity," said lead organizer Vanessa Sherrod.
How is the Problem Being Fixed?
For decades, the digital divide has been discussed by researchers, advocates, and policymakers, but with very little progress being made. The COVID pandemic spurred the passing of The American Rescue Plan Act, which allotted as much as $85 billion in federal funding for broadband infrastructure, affordability, and broadband adoption programs in an effort to truly solve the problem on a bigger scale.
Under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was created to provide broadband service discounts and technological device discounts to qualifying low-income households.
The ACP has $14.2 billion at its disposal in order to sign families up and decrease the digital divide in a meaningful way.
The benefit provided by the ACP gives a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet if they contribute $10-$50 toward the purchase price of the device.
There are a number of ways that a household can qualify for the ACP benefits, from income to documented participation in government assistance programs. There are then preferred participating providers that must facilitate the enrollment process for qualifying households.
The first step to participate in the ACP is to fill out the application at affordableconnectivity.gov. The second step is to select one of the hundreds of participating providers throughout the United States that can facilitate the process of selecting a service plan.
How Can Providers Be Reached?
Providers can be reached by phone or website, but many also hold in-person events to connect directly with those who are in need. 10,000 Tablets, based in Portland, is one of the ACP-certified distributors that hold in-person events to assist with application questions and concerns.
10,000 Tablets specifically signs qualified households up for a Samsung Tablet with five years of unlimited Verizon service. They charge a one-time $20 co-payment, which covers the amount the governmentally required charge.
Current ACP participants who previously selected the $30 monthly WiFi discount can switch to the Tablet and Service with the help of 10,000 Tablets. In order to maintain the free Verizon service on the Tablet, it must be used once every month.
10,000 Tablets works in conjunction with Connecting Portland, Portland Forward & Sano Health. Sano Health is the distributor of the Tablets and can be reached at Sanoconnect.com to start the process of ordering a Tablet.
Initiatives like 10,000 Tablets are working hard to eliminate barriers to higher paying jobs, affordable healthcare, and education that can help underprivileged and often minority families advance themselves in life.
Jefferson Smith sees a bright future for the project. "By providing access to reliable, high-speed Internet with updated hardware and software, we will be able to prevent low income families from getting stranded on the analog side of the divide. It matters."
