Tuesday, June 27, 2023

⭐IMSPARK: Imagine... Bridging the Digital Divide⭐

 

Imagine... Bridging the Digital Divide

  1. Imagined Endstate: 💡 Imagine a future where every individual in the United States has access to high-speed broadband, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
  2. Link: 🔗 Biden to detail plans for $42 billion investment in U.S. Internet access
  3. Sources:
    • 📚Reuters. (2023, June 26). Biden to detail plans for $42 billion investment in U.S. internet access.
    • 📚Hui, B. (2020). Digital Equity Declaration.
    • 📚Federal Communications Commission (FCC, 2023). National Broadband Map.
    • 📚Internet for All. (2023, June 26). Biden-Harris Administration Announces State Allocations for $42.45 Billion High-Speed Internet Grant Program
  4. What's the Big Deal:

💥 This $42 billion investment aims to bridge the digital divide by providing universal internet access to all Americans. With approximately 8.5 million locations lacking broadband connections (Reuters, 2023), this initiative addresses the issue of the digital divide with the presumption that:

·       Digital access is vital for changing the standard of care with telemedicine, going beyond convenience, where it will be a social determinant of health.

·       Digital access plays a vital role in healthcare, enabling telemedicine services, remote patient monitoring, and access to health information (Hui, 2020).

·       Digital access empowers individuals for online education, learning, and future job opportunities.

·       Digital access drives entrepreneurial endeavors, fueling economic growth and fostering opportunities for innovation and prosperity.

·       Digital access depends on reliable data regarding broadband availability, which is crucial for identifying communities that lack internet services.

Digital access is the key to bridging the digital divide, considering the reasons mentioned above and it's potential to increase inclusivity. Here's a table displaying the funds received from the $42.45 Billion High-Speed Internet Grant Program as part of the Investing in America Agenda for the Pacific: 

State / Territory

Allocation Amount

Hawaii

$149,484,493.57

American Samoa

$37,564,827.53

Guam

$156,831,733.59

Northern Mariana Islands

$80,796,709.02

 Hashtags:

#DigitalDivide

#InternetForAll

#PacificIslands

#DigitalInclusion

#DigitalEquity

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