Despite gains in internet access across the U.S., digital divides persist among certain communities of color

As society becomes increasingly more technology-dependent, experts argue that high-speed internet should be present in all homes. However, this hardly the case. Instead, digital divides are continuing to permeate the country with minorities being the ones primarily affected, a new report by the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives (OMBI) shows.

The annual report comes from a survey conducted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and it shows that over 13 million new internet users came out of the U.S. within two years, from 2021 to 2023. This number, the research argues, shows the importance of internet access across the country.

But while a larger number of people are able to access the internet now, the gaps remain when it comes to digital connectivity efforts nationwide. According to the report, only 12% of people lived in households without the internet, but certain groups tend to be disproportionately affected by this trend.

"Only 62% of Black Americans, 57% of American Indians and Alaska Natives, and 54% of Hispanics used a desktop, laptop or tablet," wrote Rafi Goldberg, a senior policy advisor on digital equity, in a June blog post on the NTIA's website.

Conversely, 72% of White non-Hispanics and 71% of Asians used a desktop, laptop or tablet in 2023, according to the survey.

"The disparities we find when looking beyond overall Internet use suggest that, while our country is making great strides toward getting everyone online in some fashion, the quality and experience of connectivity still varies greatly," Goldberg wrote.

"High-speed internet is no longer a luxury— it is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school, access health care, and to stay connected with family and friends," the Biden-Harris Administration said in a press briefing quoted by the study.

The study reported gains in categories like the number of people aged 3 and older in the U.S. that used the internet, with 83% of people in this category reporting usage in some form.

Similarly, internet adoption in low-income households also increased, up four percentage points, reporting 69% of usage in 2021 and 73% in 2023, according to the survey.

The report comes as the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) expired recently following a failure to get funds from Congress when the White House asked for a $6 billion extension last year. The program gave beneficiaries between $30 and $75 a month to pay for internet services.

When the program came to an end in May, it was expected to affect around 23 million people across the country, a quarter of which are Latinos.

Connectivity and internet accessibility has been an issue for the Latino community in recent years. For instance, a survey by the National League of Cities found affordability as one of the main reasons respondents give for not going only. Similarly, 25% of Hispanics cite this as a reason compared to 19% of the entire U.S. population. These issues can be seen commonly in states like Arizona.

"What we discovered during the pandemic is that many of our communities of color did not have internet access," said Mesa, Ariz. Council member David Luna. "This was particularly apparent in our school districts as well as our Latino-owned business. For example, students in Mesa Public Schools were not able to complete their education because there was no internet connectivity available to them."