Addressing the Divide in Detroit, and Beyond

Earlier this year, I released the first post of my blog series “Bridging the Divide.” In my first article, we discussed why digital inclusion should be a priority and how access is becoming a necessity in this digital world. In case you missed it, you can find that first article here.

Now that we are aware of the issues at hand and why addressing digital access now is of utmost importance, we can begin to discuss how to address this issue, which is exactly what I will cover in this blog.

Let’s start in my hometown, Detroit. But, you can’t talk about digital inclusion in Detroit without introducing Connect 313. They are determined to ensure all Detroiters can access the digital world and the opportunity it brings. According to Connect 313, 33% of Detroit households are “digitally excluded”, caused by a lack of a reliable broadband connection, a working computer (non-smartphone) device, or the technical support and basic training needed to use the internet in everyday life. But a “digitally included household” is just the starting point; how a person uses the internet to improve the quality of their life is what matters most. Being fully digitally connected can help improve:?

• Health outcomes via telemedicine and easier access to health records and information
• Employability via digital skilling and networking leading to higher wage jobs?
• Financial stability via online banking and personal finance tools that avoid costly “alternative financial services,” which so many unbanked and underbanked Detroiters rely on?
• Education via virtual and lifelong learning, both becoming essential in today’s technological, post-COVID world?

Connect 313 is helping to address all areas of digital dominion, including digital inclusion, equity, and empowerment. The heart of Connect 313 is its Community Council, made up of over 700 Detroit residents, their 10 elected representatives, and their 50+ committee members who steer the resources and work on behalf of all Detroit residents. The Community Council is resourced and supported by the Connect 313 Board, which I proudly represent Microsoft on, and includes the City of Detroit, Rocket Companies, United Way, General Motors, DTE Energy, Accenture, Henry Ford Health System, Wayne State University, Detroit Pistons, and other sector-leading organizations.?

Connect 313 helps to drive impact in many small and large ways. One example is its customer contact center for residents, which has helped make Detroit a leading city in the federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) rebate program.

Connect 313 is not the only entity putting digital inclusion at the forefront in Detroit. In fact, recently The City of Detroit itself released a policy statement and strategic infrastructure plan aimed at closing the divide, calling the infrastructure supporting digital technology systems “essential” in the city. The statement recognizes persistent access barriers to universal availability, affordability and adoption are public domain concerns and notes, “solutions to these insidious inequities will require informed public policies coupled with targeted public investments.” In pursuit of digital access equity, Detroit will use public funding to support public investment and create an open fiber network for public-private partnerships. The policy of Detroit is to:

• Focus on universal access and affordability for all Detroiters over all other digital access concerns
• Focus on elimination (cure) over amelioration (treatment) of root causes, favoring the use of public funding on investments in long term sustainable capital solutions, such as publicly owned digital access infrastructure, rather than short term unsustainable solutions, such as public subsidies made to private service providers?
• Create local value for Detroit
• Leverage existing investments and institutions for support
• Use the infrastructure as a platform for equity and innovation

You can read the full Digital Access Infrastructure overview here: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2022-04/Condensed%20Public%20Facing%20Document.pdf

The digital divide is vast, spanning beyond Detroit. The White House has even recognized the issue earlier this month when the Biden-Harris administration announced a $25 billion investment in the American Rescue Plan to help ensure every American has access to high-speed, affordable internet.

While this is a step in the right direction, digital inclusion is way beyond internet access for all. When we focus on digital inclusion, we are paving the way for the future and leaning into a blank slate of possibilities that could greatly impact the quality of life for all. Some of the ways digital inclusion could impact our future beyond internet access are:

• Mobility - connected vehicles, cities, and roads could lead to more public transit options, less traffic accidents, and mitigate deterioration of infrastructure
• Healthcare - means telemedicine and health-tech-at-home could lead to more affordable, easily accessible healthcare and preventative outcomes which could lead to longer life expectancies and higher quality of life
• Environmental Sustainability - better measuring, tracking, and optimizing of corporate carbon footprints, as well as reducing energy waste using Internet of Things (IoT) networks which could increase progress towards sustainability goals
• Energy - “smart homes” with lower energy bills and less pressure on power grids resulting in more reliable and consistent service across the board
• “Smarter” Tech – more diverse data and usage means tech and AI (artificial intelligence) progression with less error, more anonymity, heightened privacy and more accurate anticipations, serving a wider community of people with quicker and efficient solutions that fit any scenario and are ethical, inclusive and trusted

Detroit is just one city making strides toward digital inclusion. Other cities like Atlanta, Cleveland, Memphis and Milwaukee have also recognized this pressing issue. Collectively, we are moving the needle but the major pain point in each journey has been the same… data science. The next major hurdle will be collecting, organizing and analyzing massive amounts of data in a transferable way that brings more clarity around where the digital divide is most glaring. In my next blog post, we will dive into how tech can aid in overcoming the data issue, bringing action to this discussion.

Note: If you live, learn or work in Detroit, please check out Connect 313 and consider signing up as a member.?