Talking with Zach Wright, a renowned educator from Philly, about the digital divide, the price gauging broadband providers, the costs to families and how we (meaning you) can support real access for every family that needs it. This is my first internet show, please take a look, let me know what you think, and be…
Internet for All
Internet Is Now a Right
To fully participate in school, now and going forward, every child needs and deserves high speed internet access. We are dedicated to that fight at the local, state and national level.
The coronavirus pandemic didn’t create the digital divide, but it has exposed once and for all the deep and unacceptable inequities that exist in our education system. Our goal is to emerge from this pandemic with a more equitable and durable internet infrastructure that guarantees that every child that needs access, can get it, free with no strings attached.
High-speed internet is no longer a luxury or a privilege. It is an essential utility — like electricity and telephone — and should be treated as such. Our political and business leaders should be held accountable for making this possible and ensuring that every child has access to the educational opportunities our country promises.
- Former education secretary Arne Duncan writes in the Washington Post that “the FCC can give Internet access to all Americans during this pandemic.”
- Oakland’s Dirk Tillotson wrote in Blavity that The FCC Needs To Act Now To Ensure All Low-Income Students Have Home Internet.
- In Philadelphia, educator Zachary Wright says internet providers need to step up and “Let Children Learn.”
- In Kentucky, teacher Garris Landon Stroud urges the FCC to fight for all poor families to be connected to the internet.
IT professionals push ISPs to provide free internet to families
One in five California students lack access to the internet, and 50 percent of low-income families (and 42 percent families of color) don’t have a device at home for their child to access distance learning. So, by our state’s own calculations, pretty much half of the students in the state haven’t been able to go…
A Fremont High teacher fights for her students’ future and their access to the internet
Saying Fremont High School in East Oakland serves a high-needs student population is a severe understatement. That was true before COVID-19 exacerbated inequities and made life that much more difficult for students, and educating them that much more challenging for their teachers. “You have kids who are homeless, you have kids who are unaccompanied minors,…
Who Gets Paid and Who Gets Served, Why Oakland’s 12 Million Dollar Plan Wont Close the Digital Divide
I appreciate the generosity of those that gave to the so called “Oakland Undivided” campaign. There are literally thousands of underserved Oakland students who cannot get into the digital school house door. It was encouraging to see the fundraising goal met in less than a week. I am a lot less encouraged by the actual…
New Study; Half of Bay Area Families Couldn’t Pay Bills Pre-COVID, More Evidence “Low Cost” Internet Won’t Close the Digital Divide
Tipping Point’s latest study proved what many of us know. Before, during, and after the pandemic many of our families cannot afford internet. Even at $10 a month. Internet is the last bill you pay when it competes with food, rent, lights, water, or acute health care needs. And as you can see below 50%…