Digital Divide

.docx

School

University of Phoenix *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

470

Subject

Medicine

Date

May 8, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

6

Uploaded by BailiffFogWaterBuffalo3

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
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
  • Access to all documents
  • Unlimited textbook solutions
  • 24/7 expert homework help