Bridging the Digital Divide: Much More Than a Bridge to Nowhere
Posted on March 16, 2016 by Samuel Pastrick
Tags, Telecommunications
A part of my role here at CUB is to speak with folks about their needs and concerns as they relate to accessing telecom services in Oregon. (For clarity, “telecommunication services” refers to wireline/home or mobile telephone and broadband.) While I haven’t been at this for long, some common threads continue to emerge – so much so that I’m compelled to write this piece.
The question I get most often? “What’s out there for folks who can’t afford an additional $50, $60, or even $75+ per month for internet at home?”
My response: “There’s just not much out there in the way of affordable internet!” While certainly a lousy answer, it’s the honest truth. But each time this question is asked of me, I continue by saying something to the effect of “times are changing.” Comcast, for instance, recently launched a pilot program for seniors in select cities around the country that builds on their “Internet Essentials” program, which currently targets low-income families with children.
For eligible seniors (now only in Boston, Palm Beach County, and San Francisco County) and for low-income families in Comcast’s service area in Oregon, home internet costs just $10/month, and comes wifi-enabled with no rental fees, and a steep discount on a new PC.
The fact that they’re piloting this new project is a good sign in itself. And while there’s no (publicly available) timeline for when Comcast might expand to other cities like Portland, the FCC has already made clear recommendations about updating the federal Lifeline program to include wire-line and mobile broadband customers. The White House strongly endorsed the proposal last week and made promising recommendations of its own. This is another important development, and one that should gain traction later this year.
More generally, the goal of “bridging the digital divide” - connecting undeserved/ underrepresented communities to the 21st century economy and social network - is more and more commonplace. The Obama administration continues to make strides around this issue nationally, and just the other day released a new position paper on the topic.
I’m also honored to have served this past year as CUB’s representative during a Multnomah County-wide strategic planning process to develop a Digital Equity Action Plan (DEAP). The DEAP’s mission is to bridge the digital divide for excluded members of our community through affordable access and tools, and will be publicly available and ready for community implementation later this spring.
Lastly, we’ve all heard the rumblings for months, but a recent Oregon Public Utility Commission decision signals Google Fiber’s arrival in the Portland area. While limited in service-scope, CUB feels Google Fiber will offer a competitive and more affordable option to customers seeking speeds well in excess of 25mps (the FCC’s current definition of broadband internet).
The trouble remains, though, that until the FCC updates Lifeline, or Comcast builds out their Internet Essentials program, or Google Fiber finally sets up shop, lower-income consumers (at least in Oregon) have no better option than CenturyLink’s Internet Basics package. And while it’s by no means a perfect option, it is relatively affordable and can meet many consumers’ needs - at least until better options come online.
It’s critical though to read through the fine print – as while the price for the first 12 months is only $9.95, it ratchets up after that and levels at around $15 for the remainder of the contract period. Also, Internet Basics does not come wifi-equipped (nor is it fast enough to justify wireless capability), and CenturyLink won’t remind customers about modem rental fees after the 12-month waiver period is complete.
These are all things of which consumers must be aware. Ultimately, Internet Basics is the cheapest option available right now. And as long as you know exactly what you’re getting into, I recommend it as the least-cost widely available option.
As far as affordable mobile devices are concerned, the first and perhaps best route as a consumer is to check out the current Lifeline providers in Oregon (Lifeline, again, is a federal subsidy program for home and mobile phone users.) Folks should either fill out an Oregon Lifeline application online, or they can explore any of the following providers/programs:
Finally, people often ask about using a mobile hotspot for home and/or public internet access. In my opinion, investigating the options discussed above before looking into hotspot ready devices is probably, at least for most consumers, the best and least-cost option.
The reason I say this is that if you already own a wireless-ready laptop, you can access the internet in a variety of places free-of-charge; coffee shops are great for this. What’s more, having access to the internet at home is an impactful luxury, and I think that’s wise to explore first - especially if lower-income customers can combine it with a more affordable mobile phone through a Lifeline provider.
In closing, accessing the digital age has never been more complicated or frustrating – especially for vulnerable communities. But that’s why I’m here at CUB – to help.
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09/05/22 | 2 Comments | Bridging the Digital Divide: Much More Than a Bridge to Nowhere