The digital divide means the difference between people who have good internet access and devices, and those who do not. In many rural parts of the United States, the internet is slow or hard to get. There are few internet providers, and the cost can be high. Broadband speeds are often too low for work, school, or health needs.
For example, Fresno County in California has towns like Caruthers and Riverdale, where many families do not have steady internet. Orin Hirschkorn, the superintendent of Caruthers Unified School District, said virtual learning was very hard during the pandemic because many homes lacked internet or devices. At one time, libraries stayed open all night so students could use free Wi-Fi from their cars in the parking lot.
In 2018, about 30% of the 50 million public K–12 students in the U.S. did not have high-speed internet or a computer at home. More than 10 million students had neither, making it hard to do schoolwork online. Even in California, about 300,000 students still do not have good internet service.
The “last mile” means the final part of bringing internet from the main network to homes, schools, businesses, and other places in a community. This part is often the hardest and most expensive to build, especially in rural and poor areas where houses are far apart or the land is difficult.
The Last Mile Broadband Program, like the $2 billion plan started by California in 2021, works to fix these gaps. It gives money and help to bring broadband directly to rural homes without good internet. This program is needed because many internet companies avoid these places since it costs a lot and makes little profit.
One example is the work between Comcast, Fresno County, and the California Public Utilities Commission, with $1 million from a Federal Funding Account grant. This project plans to increase broadband in Riverdale and nearby towns by 2026, adding to federal and state funds.
Fast and reliable internet helps more than just school. In rural areas, broadband helps small businesses grow and brings new investments. It allows people to use telehealth, which means they can see doctors online when hospitals are far away. It also helps people find jobs, work from home, and use banks and government services online.
Buddy Mendes, a Fresno County Supervisor, said the pandemic showed that internet is a basic need for school and health care. Making broadband better will improve lives and create more economic opportunities.
Besides state programs, there are also federal programs like the CARES Act, the FCC’s E-Rate program, and the USDA’s ReConnect Pilot. These give money to connect schools, libraries, and rural homes. They often help lower internet costs and give out devices like laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots.
For example, Comcast gave laptops to 88 students in the Caruthers Unified School District to help with device shortages. In Cleveland, DigitalC worked with the school district to offer internet for $16 a month and handed out many devices and hotspots. In Durham, North Carolina, over 20,000 Chromebooks and 5,900 hotspots were given to families.
Jackson County, Kentucky is a good example of big broadband work in rural areas. A local group used $45 million in federal money to build thousands of miles of broadband cables that connected 7,000 buildings in one of the poorest counties in the U.S.
Giving money is important, but rules and laws also matter to close the digital gap. Experts think the broadband field could use rules like those once used for phones to make sure everyone has access. This could include pricing that fits different incomes and guaranteed services so no area is left without affordable internet.
Programs like the FCC’s E-Rate help schools and libraries pay for internet. But a national plan is needed to make sure infrastructure, prices, and service quality are fair. This plan would stop uncoordinated efforts and encourage providers to serve rural places even if they make less money.
Having broadband available doesn’t mean all families can pay for it. Many low-income homes find monthly internet bills too expensive. Families often rely on mobile data from phones, which usually does not work well for school or health visits online.
One idea is to combine internet help with other aid programs like housing or utility support. This way, families get steady internet that helps with work, school, and health without fear of losing service because of cost.
Buying devices and internet is not enough to improve digital outcomes. Teachers and community leaders need training to use technology well. Without learning how to use apps and teaching methods properly, devices and internet will not close education gaps or help people use healthcare online.
For doctors’ offices and IT staff, this means working with workers and patients on digital skills. Training helps people use telehealth tools and clinics operate better. Support systems make the best use of new broadband.
As rural internet improves, medical offices can improve their work with tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow automation. AI phone systems made by companies like Simbo AI help clinics answer patient calls better. This lets staff focus more on patient care.
In rural places where internet is finally steady, AI can lower missed calls, book appointments without mistakes, send reminders, and help answer patient questions. This makes work easier and improves patient experience, especially when traveling to the clinic is hard.
Automation can also help with managing health records, billing, and telehealth visits. All these need strong, steady internet. Good broadband lets clinics share data safely and quickly. It supports virtual visits and health checks from home.
With better broadband, AI and automation become good investments that help rural clinics work well and keep quality care.
Medical office managers in rural areas should know about broadband upgrades and possible partnerships with internet companies and government programs. Learning about subsidies for patients and staff can also help reduce digital access problems at clinics.
Working with groups like Comcast or nonprofits can help get devices or internet for patients without service. This can improve telehealth use and health results. Teaching digital skills and helping patients use online portals can lower missed appointments and help manage long-term illnesses.
IT managers should focus on upgrading systems to use broadband for telemedicine, AI patient tools, and online billing. Planning for broadband reliability and automation will help rural clinics offer better and faster care, closer to what is available in cities.
The main issue is lack of access to reliable internet, which became particularly evident during the pandemic when students needed to participate in virtual learning.
During the pandemic, rural school districts struggled to provide virtual education due to barriers such as lack of internet access and devices for students.
A partnership between Comcast, the state of California, and Fresno County was established to improve rural internet access and decrease the digital divide.
Comcast donated laptops to 88 students in Caruthers Unified School District to help them access the internet for educational purposes.
The project aims to provide reliable, high-speed broadband to underserved households, enhancing access to online learning, telehealth, and employment opportunities.
The project is supported by a $1 million Federal Funding Account grant from the California Public Utilities Commission and private funding from Comcast.
The ‘Last Mile’ broadband program, initiated in 2021, aims to address digital divide disparities in low-income rural communities, ensuring access to quality internet.
Mendes emphasized the need for reliable internet at home, highlighting that the pandemic exposed the lack of access and the necessity for community solutions.
Improved internet access supports online learning, telehealth appointments, banking services, and creates job opportunities, boosting economic growth and quality of life.
During the pandemic, libraries in the area kept their lights on so students could use internet access from the parking lot, illustrating the urgent need for connectivity.
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