Digital Divide

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University of Phoenix *

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470

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Medicine

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May 8, 2024

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Summative Assessment: Digital Divide University of Phoenix APMT/470 Dr. C. Ellen Washington 7/24/2023 Digital Divide

The digital divide is an issue in Oakland, Maryland, it’s a small rural town in Garrett County. The town is struggling with technology, infrastructure, and resources. The challenges are due to its location and rural topography (Turner-Lee). These issues can lead to a lack of educational resources, lack of internet access, telecommunication services, job opportunities, lack of healthcare providers, transportation, and other public needs. Those affected include children, the workforce, employers, healthcare patients, and residents in the area and other rural areas. In Maryland, about 25% of Maryland live in rural communities (2022). I am writing this proposal to address the underlying cause and issues and provide help to rural communities in the area. Garrett County resembles many other rural areas in the U.S. that are waiting for policymakers and incumbent internet service providers (ISPs) to move forward on expanding digital access in their communities (Turner-Lee). Children's education is being affected by the digital divide because they don’t have internet access for homework that is requiring Internet access. Children are not able to connect with online resources to educate themselves. Workers and employers are also impacted. Workers are not able to gain the digital skills they need to perform jobs or even apply for a competitive job market due to the lack of digital skills. Employers are affected by efficiency and competitiveness with other businesses. The healthcare industry in have been impacted by technology tremendously for telehealth has been shown to enhance access to high-quality healthcare, and reduce travel time, costs, and disruption to patients’ lives due to monitoring at home (Babbage et al., 2020). There are shortages, population health, and delay care in the healthcare industry in rural areas. Primary care physicians in rural areas often do not have the support of sub-specialists, hospitalists, or emergency physicians, and thus treat a wider range of conditions with limited access to sophisticated technology (Nielsen et al., 2017). In rural communities, they are limited with healthcare resources and technology.

Most of the population in the United States expects and relies on Technology and internet access. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set minimum standards for broadband service in 2015, requiring a download speed of 25 Mbps and 3 Mbps for uploads (“25/3”) but those standards are now outdated as we move toward a post-pandemic world, where remote work, learning and healthcare have made heavy use of video connections and large file uploads (Ross, 2022). We are now using technology more than ever and those rural areas are not able to benefit from those remote opportunities like people that live in the suburbs and city areas. What is causing the digital divide in the United States? Factors such as age-related issues, socioeconomic, cost, geographic, racial, cultural, and language factors. An example of age-related issues are people over the age of 65, 44 percent have no access to or do not use it due to poor education about technology benefit. Socioeconomic factors are caused by income and education. The digital divide can negatively impact the economy and deepens income inequality (CTU) Geographic factors are rural areas that are less likely to have digital services more urban and suburban cities have the luxury of full access to high-speed access. According to date on Pew Research, Americans with income below 30k have lower levels of technology adoption; Smartphones 76%; desktops or laptops 59%; Home broadband 57%; and Tablets 41% more of the lower level. Cultural, racial, and language factors examples are language barriers and less likely to access resources due to the formats of the information. The resource that can help improve access to technology and information is Rural.gov. The government has many programs such as Community Connect Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants. The grant funding can assist rural communities to advance with technology, connections, education, and health. Funds can be used to build broadband infrastructure and purchase computer equipment to assist with distance learning and telemedicine services. Rural.gov even has broadband loans. Another grant called the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) can assist with creating high- wage jobs, and training for workers to assist in creating new jobs. There are many other program that

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can assist with technology and broadband. Rural Health Information Hub also has a list of grants such as the Foundation for Rural Services Community Grant Program that can fund to help create more jobs, outreach programs that promote technology learning and innovation, Education technology such as laptops and computers, and telecommunications broadband. There are many resources to help towns with broadband needs and technology. Living in a rural area has benefits such as reduced noise, cheaper homes, less pollution, and more privacy for residents. Who wouldn’t want a peaceful life? All that would change when technology and communication is added to the equation. Access to technology could impact individuals and towns all around the world and the quality of life. Rural living sounds very stress-free so adding broadband communication can mean more people want to live in rural areas due to the low pricing of homes, more income in the area, and a lot more developments and businesses. Technology can impact the quality of life that the rural communities are used to, and change can be positive and negative because of change. On a positive note, technology can improve communication, accessible shopping, information access, virtual social lives, online education, flexible working schedules and more remote jobs, and smarter health tracking, and be able to communicate with health professionals without leaving home.

References  Babbage, D. R., van Kessel, K., Terraschke, A., Drown, J., & Elder, H. (2020). Attitudes of rural communities towards the use of technology for health purposes in New Zealand: a focus group study. BMJ open, 10(6), e037892. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037892  Connecting the Unconnected (n.d.). Economic Effects of the Digital Divide: Unlocking Growth with Equitable Access. https://ctu.ieee.org/economic-effects-of-the-digital-divide-unlocking- growth-with-equitable-access/#:~:text=Disadvantages%20of%20the%20Digital%20Divide,-Many %20of%20the&text=The%20digital%20divide%20has%20an,less%20to%20the%20country's %20economy .  (n.d.). Digital Responsibility: Taking Control of Your Digital Life. Digital Responsibility. http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/what-are-the-causes-of-digital-divide  Maryland Department of Health (2022, January 17). Maryland State Office of Rural Health. https://health.maryland.gov/pophealth/Pages/Rural-health.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8BThe %20State%20of,Washington%2C%20Wicomico%2C%20and%20Worcester .  Nielsen, M., D'Agostino, D., & Gregory, P. (2017). Addressing Rural Health Challenges Head On. Missouri Medicine, 114(5), 363–366.  Pew Research (2021, June 21). Americans with lower incomes have lower levels of technology adoption . https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/06/22/digital-divide-persists-even- as-americans-with-lower-incomes-make-gains-in-tech-adoption/ft_2021-06- 22_digitaldivideincome_01/  Ross, K. (2022, August 19). Solving America’s Digital Divide. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/08/19/solving-americas-digital-divide/? sh=b8cb3743de86

 Turner-Lee, N. (n.d.). From Rural Digital Divides to Local Solutions. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/from-rural-digital-divides-to-local-solutions/

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