When the demand for internet-based information surged following the pandemic, and seemingly every facet of daily life was conducted from our homes, a new light illuminated an old problem. It became clear that large numbers of people were left in the digital dark. Kids without connectivity suffered in school. A lot of people weren’t able to connect with care providers. Our less-tech-savvy elders couldn’t see family, even virtually. The workforce shrunk. The list of setbacks goes on.
Lack of access to broadband internet and devices has created a divide that isolates large groups of people. We live in a technology-dependent world. The internet is no longer a “nice to have,” it’s a have to have.