Internet Access

Internet access has improved since 2013. Still, 13% of American Indians and 10% of Black Americans lacked internet as of 2021.

Lack of internet access by race/ethnicity, U.S.

Percent of individuals without internet access

Source: Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Notes: 2020 data is not available. A.N.= Alaska Native. P.I.= Pacific Islander. Note: “Lacking internet access” means the household has no internet subscription (including no cellular data plan) or no computing device (including no smartphone).

In 2013, 39% of American Indians, 33% of Black Americans, and 29% of Hispanic Americans lacked internet access (including cellular data plans), compared to only 18% of white Americans and 10% of Asian Americans. By 2021, internet access had spread and disparities had narrowed such that 13% of American Indians, 10% of Black Americans, 8% of Hispanic Americans, 7% of white Americans and 4% of Asian Americans lacked internet access. But among those who have internet access, about 15% are cell phone dependent and do not have broadband access at home.¹ While a cellular data plan is helpful, studies have shown that without broadband access, workers and students are at a disadvantage in the job market and education system.²

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is sending $42.45 billion directly to states to bring broadband internet access to areas that do not have it.³ The law also works to make internet more affordable in places where it already exists by allocating $14.25 billion toward a $30 monthly subsidy of household broadband subscriptions through the Affordable Connectivity Program.⁴ 6 Southern governors have prioritized the implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program, including governors in AL, KY, MS, NC, TN, and WV.⁵ However, the program is projected to run out of funding by early 2024.⁶ Moreover, as artificial intelligence tools become increasingly powerful, training in the effective use of technology will be just as important as internet access for reducing the digital divide.⁷

1. “Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet”. Pew Research Center. April, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/?tabId=tab-3109350c-8dba-4b7f-ad52-a3e976ab8c8f 

2. “Scaling the Digital Divide”. Vigdor, Ladd. National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research. June, 2010. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.849.6663&rep=rep1&type=pdf

3. “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Implementation”. Federal Register. January, 2022. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/10/2022-00221/infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-implementation 

4. “Washington may be about to take a giant step backward in closing the digital divide”. Levin. Brookings. March, 2023. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2023/03/13/washington-may-be-about-to-take-a-giant-step-backward-in-closing-the-digital-divide/

5. “Governors in 28 States Have Already Made Affordable Connectivity Program Adoption A Priority”. Education Superhighway. https://www.educationsuperhighway.org/no-home-left-offline/governors/

6. “Free internet funding expected to run out in 2024 – what does this mean for you?” Smith. AllConnect. May, 2023. https://www.allconnect.com/blog/acp-funding-to-run-out

7. “AI and the next digital divide in education”. Trucano. Brookings. July, 2023. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-and-the-next-digital-divide-in-education/