13 - The Chasm Between Us

The digital divide in the United States is more than a technological gap—it’s a systemic issue with profound implications for urban and rural communities, and the nation as a whole. This divide isn’t merely about access to the internet; it’s about opportunity, innovation, and the potential to uplift entire populations. As has been the case throughout history, any inequity has always harmed not only the group who was downtrodden but also those with the boots. This is even more so the case now, any group of people left behind in the U.S. is a group that isn’t able to contribute to themselves, their families or help the whole to their full potential. In this article, we’ll explore the urban and rural dimensions of the digital divide, its broader effects on society, and the transformative potential of closing this gap.

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The Digital Divide in Urban Communities

I’ve worked in telecommunications for more than a decade, and I’ve seen rampant poverty and pandemics keep people from achieving their goals, and their chance at the ‘American Dream”. I’ve seen well-to-do organizations try to help, but it has amounted to a band-aid on a knife wound. Far too many people go without proper access to the tools needed to live in a country and a world that is more and more dependent on knowledge and information.

The risk this causes has only grown as our world has become more technological. In order to curb rampant inequity the likes of which America hasn’t seen since the great depression or even its inception, it will be more and more important to have people ready and willing to face down a very competitive and technical world.

In many urban areas, the digital divide manifests in disinvested communities where reliable internet access is scarce or prohibitively expensive. These areas, often underserved by major broadband providers, face cascading disadvantages in education, employment, and access to essential services.

Impact on the Whole City
The effects of this divide aren’t isolated to individual neighborhoods. A digitally disenfranchised population limits a city’s overall potential. Workforce development stalls when residents can’t acquire digital skills. Economic growth slows when small businesses lack access to e-commerce opportunities. Public health suffers when telemedicine remains out of reach for vulnerable populations.

Even more superficial effects take place on a city-to-city basis. We know about the staunch competition between cities in the U.S. to land up-and-coming tech companies. These companies aren’t just moving to places that have nice beaches and good roads. Those things help, but founders of tech companies and investors are looking for a well-educated and capable city. A city that handles its problems well, and is ready to handle the influx of growth a new unicorn company may have. This is not only with funding but with a well-educated resilient workforce to grow the organization and in turn bring more investment to the city as a whole. I would point out the growth of Nashville, TN, and Austin, TX. Neither of these places have beaches but do have a wealth of tech jobs and large well-funded universities to keep highly trained professionals employed at these companies.

A Path to Change
Addressing the urban digital divide requires a dual effort: grassroots initiatives within communities and external investment. Local organizations can drive digital literacy programs, while public-private partnerships can expand affordable broadband infrastructure. Cities like my city, Louisville, Kentucky, which established a municipal broadband network, demonstrate the transformative power of such initiatives. But we can and must do more.

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The Digital Divide in Rural Communities

In rural America, the digital divide is often a matter of infrastructure. Sparse populations make it less profitable for providers to expand high-speed internet, leaving millions without reliable connectivity. I spoke a bit about this in an earlier article “As Above, So Below: Terrestrial Fiber vs Satellite Connectivity”.

Impact on the Nation
The absence of digital access in rural areas has a ripple effect on the entire country. Quality of life diminishes when students can’t access online resources or farmers can’t leverage smart agricultural technologies. Moreover, the economic potential of rural innovation is stifled, which limits national progress.

The U.S. isn’t that far from its agrarian roots (no pun intended), as people moved into cities, stigmas grew about the people who stayed in the countryside, and rural communities developed stigmas about people in the cities, you see this played out and played upon in our political discourse. This caused a blindness to the truth, all the cities’ food comes from rural communities, and the economic driver of the states that allow for equipment and agricultural innovation comes from the cities. These two don’t exist separately; this is a very close symbiotic relationship, and if we forget that, on either side, we will find ourselves altogether lacking. Either could find a way to survive without the other, but we don’t have to, and if we want to grow as communities and as a country, we must bridge the digital and cultural divide.

Bridging the Gap
Efforts to close the rural digital divide must focus on both federal and local action. Investments in broadband infrastructure, incentivized by government subsidies, can bring connectivity to remote areas. Community-driven initiatives, such as rural cooperatives, have shown success in expanding internet access where large providers fail to invest.

The results of this bridging are seen in companies like John Deere who have created fully digital drones and combines for remote farming which allows for unbelievable growth in efficiency on farms where these tools can be used… But they need stable connectivity.

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A Nation Transformed: The Ripple Effects of Closing the Digital Divide

The digital divide doesn’t just hurt those without access—it holds back the entire nation. Addressing this divide could unleash a wave of untapped potential, driving innovation, fostering inclusivity, and elevating the United States more as a global leader.

Unlocking Innovation in Every Community
Urban and rural communities alike are home to innovators and problem-solvers. From tech startups in urban centers to agricultural innovations in rural areas, closing the digital divide would amplify these efforts. With access to tools like reliable broadband, cloud computing, and digital marketplaces, these innovators could contribute solutions that benefit everyone.

Opportunities Beyond Boundaries
Bridging the digital divide could break down societal barriers. Reliable connectivity would enable equal access to online education, telemedicine, and remote work opportunities, transcending class, racial, and geographic differences. By ensuring digital equity, we can create a more cohesive and capable society.

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Imagining a Digitally Unified America

What would a fully connected America look like? Imagine a nation where every student, regardless of zip code, can access world-class educational resources. Envision a healthcare system where telemedicine is ubiquitous, ensuring that even the most remote areas receive quality care. Picture an economy thriving with small businesses and entrepreneurs leveraging digital tools to innovate and grow.

The resources and ingenuity to close the digital divide are within reach. By addressing this challenge head-on, America could solve some of its most pressing societal issues—such as food insecurity and education inequality—while securing its position as a global leader in innovation.

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The digital divide is not an unsolvable problem. It’s a call to action. By bridging this gap, we don’t just connect communities; we connect the nation’s potential to its brightest future. It’s about not settling for what we think is possible; it is about doing the difficult work of making what we think is impossible a reality. Let’s make it happen.