The Digital Divide: How COVID-19 Exposed Disparity in Communities and What We Can Do About It

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the digital divide in stark relief. Low-income families, already experiencing disproportionate health impacts and income loss, have struggled to access unemployment and other assistance requiring online applications.

With school now virtual for most students, many families don’t have adequate affordable broadband to meet family needs, and often don’t have appropriate devices or experience with using them. All of this conspires to deepen disparities.

While fear, loss of income, and food insecurity were the deepest initial hardships, the depth of the digital divide made every solution more challenging.

Using the experience of the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) residents as a case study, join our expert panel to explore problems and potential solutions to three aspects of the digital divide: quality, affordable internet access; appropriate devices; and, the know-how and support to use them.