Digital equity is a 21st Century right

OPINION – In my decades of working in Los Angeles, I’ve seen firsthand how the digital divide affects the Latino/a community here. I’ve sat with hundreds of involved parents and local community advocates who can’t fully participate in civic life or pursue their goals because of unreliable internet service or who are forced to make the difficult decision to cut their service because of unaffordable rates. In fact, over 1 million Latino/as in California are without internet access.

While our communities receive “poor connection” messages online, commercials advertise blazing-fast internet speed to LA consumers. In the predominantly Latino/a Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) neighborhoods, affordable internet at basic speeds is unavailable.

Internet access is a 21st-century civil right. It is needed for online learning, remote work opportunities, banking, telehealth appointments, and job applications. It’s crucial for civic engagement, like filing taxes and checking voter registration. Our communities are still intentionally priced out through digital redlining, where companies charge higher prices for internet in lower-income neighborhoods, or through a lack of adequate broadband infrastructure, depriving them of this lifeline.

The data shows just how widespread this problem is. First, the internet is slower and more expensive in low-income neighborhoods. Second, according to the CA Public Utilities Commission, 892,456 households across LA County still need internet access that meets the bare minimum standards set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This challenge is concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods like those in SELA.

For example, in Vernon, over 80% of households lack broadband with 100 Mbps download speeds – the minimum for most households to meet basic needs like downloading and uploading documents or conducting video calls. The same is true for at least 40% of households in Huntington Park and 20-40% of households in Maywood.

By forming part of the Digital Equity Los Angeles (DELA) coalition a few years ago, the community said “Basta.” A group of local leaders and community-based organizations have united to work together to increase awareness of internet access & disparities and fight for solutions.

One solution is the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative (MMBI). Passed in 2021, Senate Bill (SB) 156 was the largest investment yet by the state of California, allocating over $6 billion to improving and expanding infrastructure. It aimed to address the needs of historically excluded rural and urban communities.

This included funding to address the “middle mile” network that comprises the physical midsection of the infrastructure needed to connect national broadband networks to local networks required to connect to businesses and homes. MMBI aims to produce an open-access network to help reach areas deprioritized by these companies. In contrast to private owners who may not have profit incentives, this approach puts the people first.

Government bodies throughout California have stated a commitment to combating this digital divide. For example, the City of Los Angeles passed a resolution to combat digital discrimination, and currently within the state legislature, Assembly Bill 2239 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta aims to adopt the Federal Communication Commission’s new definition of digital discrimination as California law. Similarly, SB 156 recommended allocating funding to address the middle mile gaps. Now, we need to put our money where our mouth is.

In January, the Governor’s proposed budget included a $1.5 billion request for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative and brought hope back to our community. Despite the continuous requests and advocacy from community members and community organizations, however, the recent Governor’s May Revise cut the entire $1.5 billion from the proposal, thus, breaking on his promise made to our communities like Southeast Los Angeles, which once again, are among the first to be cut from crucial funding programs.

At the height of COVID-19, school districts and state and federal governments came together to treat the digital divide like the emergency it was. Lack of access to reliable broadband holds back students, especially students of color and Latino/a students. It prevents people from engaging in their communities, applying for jobs, or securing the necessary benefits.

The State is without a doubt facing a difficult budget year, but the Governor and the state legislature must act to address the digital divide, especially where it’s needed most, like here in Southeast LA. We urge them to help students, entrepreneurs, families, and communities throughout California have fair access to the tools to meet their 21st-century needs.

Vanessa Aramayo is the Executive Director of Alliance for a Better Community, an organization building power and advocacy for the Latino/a community in the Los Angeles area.