Digital Access – The NC Digital Inclusion Plan

High-speed internet connectivity, or broadband, is fundamental to the society that we live in today and is key for individuals and groups, both small and

large, to be fully active participants in any sector and geographic area. Internet connectivity has become intertwined and ingrained in all corners

of our personal, professional, educational, and recreational lives. This results in broadband needing to be considered a utility. Much like electricity and

water, broadband is essential, and this belief has been acknowledged at both the Federal and State level. Most notably, but not limited to, in reaction to

the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.

The view of broadband as a utility is also widely held by the public with this belief only becoming more prevalent with time. Americans who considered broadband as a necessity, like electricity and water, increased from 61% in 2017 to 76% in February 2021 (Rassool, 2021). Broadband is a general purpose technology, meaning that it has the ability and potential to transform society extensively and positively on many levels. Yet this transformation has not been distributed evenly across the United States, nor has it benefited each area equally. To effectively decrease the digital divide, community leadership, local governments, stakeholders, ISPs, and Councils of Government must communicate, coordinate, and act effectively and efficiently. This is critical in striving towards digital inclusion in all areas, but especially in rural areas that are lacking access, adoption, affordability, devices, and/or digital literacy

The Vision of the Digital Inclusion Plan is to:

  • Eliminate the digital divide for all residents in North Carolina.
  • Provide access to affordable high-performance, long-lasting, and easily upgradeable broadband internet service at home.
  • Assure at least one unrestricted low or no-cost device per household that accommodates the person’s needs.
  • Provide opportunities for those without homes, in transitional housing, or in facilities to have access to digital devices and internet services that meets their needs.
  • Teach the necessary digital skills, training, and quality technical support for each person’s particular goals (communication, education, health care access, economic participation, democratic participation, and beyond)

Web Resources:

Access the multilingual, virtual mobile assistant that helps applicants find out if they’re eligible
for the ACP, determine the easiest way to qualify, identify documents they’ll
need for the application, and find broadband plans in their area: here

Free and Low Cost Internet Plan Options

What is happening to ACP?

The $14.2 billion Congress initially made available for the ACP is running out. Due to the lack of additional funding for the ACP, the Commission has announced that April 2024 will be the last month ACP households will receive the full ACP discount, as they have received in prior months. ACP households may receive a partial discount in my 2024. After May 2024, unless Congress provides additional funding, ACP households will no longer receive the ACP benefit and the ACP will end. NCBroadband.gov/ACP

Other Free and Low-Cost Internet Plan Options

Call your Internet Service Provider and ask them about free and low cost internet plans that may help you and your household. Click here for more information.

Many Internet Service providers offered “Free and Low Cost Internet Plans” before the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). It is expected that many will offer these Plans again when ACP benefits end. By doing so, Internet Service Providers will prevent having ACP households cancel their services.

What YOU can do to help support ACP

Contact your representative in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act here

Additional Resources:

Free Online Tutorials – From Tech to GED Prep!

Cyber Seniors

CyberSeniors.org

Hotline: 1-844-217-3057

Previous Webinars

The NC Broadband Survey

Offered through NCDIT and the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University.

Slow Internet? No Internet? We need to know! Online Survey

The North Carolina Broadband Survey is designed to gather information on locations in the state without adequate internet access and speeds. The information gathered from the survey will:

  • Provide clear data to guide investment of funds through the state’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grant program
  • Inform research and policy recommendations
  • Support strategic targeting of additional funding streams

The above was taken from NC DIT's website. The survey is available in both English and Spanish and takes approximately 5 minutes to complete.

For Homes & Businesses

WITH Internet Service

Visit NCBroadband.gov/survey

to take the survey now.

For Homes & Businesses

WITHOUT Internet Service

Text “Internet” to 919-750-0553. Standard text messaging rates will apply.

English

  • No Internet Access? Text! Text "internet" to 919-750-0553
  • Can’t Text? Call! 919-750-0553

Spanish

  • No Internet Access? Text! Textea "internet" a 919-750-8860
  • Can’t Text? Llama a 919-750-8860

Your feedback directly impacts grant and infrastructure funding in your community.

Keywords

To understand the current state of digital inclusion and the digital divide one must understand what these, and other, terms mean.

Digital Inclusion

The pursuit to ensure that all persons and communities regardless of their socioeconomic status, demographic, or geographic area have unrestricted access to affordable highspeed internet, an adequate and unrestricted device to use it, and the appropriate and applicable technological support to troubleshoot and learn. This pursuit is grounded in the belief that highspeed broadband is essential for all, just as other utilities, to be fully active and more self-sufficient participants in society and the workforce. Digital inclusion rests on five major principals within this Plan:

Access

The ability for individuals and organizations to connect to the internet using compatible devices and the presence of at least one internet provider at an address.

Adoption

Individuals who are actively subscribed to an internet service

Affordability

The cost and viability for individuals with any income to subscribe to an internet service provider (ISP) in addition to the cost and viability for individuals to purchase or receive an adequate device that can connect to the internet.

Digital Literacy

The necessary skills and appropriate technical support to properly navigate the digital ecosystem (devices, webpages, applications, etc.) in addition to more particular aspects when concerning education, medical care, virtual meetings, governmental assistance programs, personal endeavors, and beyond.

Device Access

The availability of an unrestricted and internet-enabled device; this does not include restricted homework devices.

Digital Divide

The structural (the culture and social structure of a society), systemic (issues in the overall system), and sometimes geographic gap between those who attain the principals of digital inclusion and those who do or cannot. These obstacles and issues not only result in a digital divide, but in different realities where a person not only lacks digital inclusion, but also lacks access to healthcare, housing, higher education, and beyond.

Broadband

A type of “always on” internet connection, in contrast to dial-up. In 2015 the

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set the minimum speed for broadband at 25 download/3 upload Mbps, or megabits per second, but on July 12, 2022, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed raising the limits

to 100 download/20 upload Mbps. So, what’s the difference between broadband and Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi is not a type of internet itself. Wi-Fi is the radio signal that is sent from a router to wireless devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.). The cable that is plugged into a router is called broadband. Broadband is not exclusive to Wi-Fi; it can also include DSL (direct connection via copper phone lines) and fiber (direct connection using ultra-thin glass strands that carry light instead of electricity).

Dark Fiber

Unused optical fiber cables. Dark fiber is constructed largely through overestimating the amount of cable required for a project. Overestimation is common practice due to goals of meeting growing demand, potential savings

in purchasing materials in large quantities, and acquiring permits in large areas rather than single streets.

Dark Fiber Leasing

Dark fiber leasing is when a network/service provider leases its “unlit” dark

fiber to a customer (primarily a large company or organization) that then maintains and operates the equipment required to “light” the fiber. Dark fiber

is of interest to large companies and organizations that have high demands for internet speeds and security as well as those who send and receive many files.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

A federal benefit program offered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that provides a discount of up to $30 a month for internet service subscriptions for eligible households (or up to $75 on qualifying Tribal lands) and a onetime discount of up to $100 to purchase a device from participating providers if more than $10 and less than $50 is contributed towards the purchase.

Households with an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible, in addition to households where a member is a recipient of at least one of the following: Federal Pell Grant, SNAP, Medicaid, Free and Reduced-

Price Lunch Program, Federal Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income, WIC, Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Bureau of

Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation, Tribal Head Start. Additional information and outreach

materials can be found in the Resources section of this Plan.

Download/Upload Speeds

Mbps, or megabits per second, is the unit of measurement for internet bandwidth. Bandwidth is the maximum speed that data can be downloaded and uploaded and is rarely at 100% since it reflects the maximum speeds and not the average speeds. Speeds can fluctuate based on what users are downloading/uploading, how many devices are connected andusing a network, and more.

Hotspots

Can be built into most new smartphones or be their own portable device.

Hotspots rely on cell service to function. They do not work without cell service, which makes their coverage in certain geographic areas (including the High Country) spotty. Hotspots rely on wireless data from cellular providers to provide internet access for devices. Portable hotspots have a related subscription charge, like a monthly cell phone bill, to be able to access wireless data from cellular providers. Built-in hotspot features for smartphones and tablets rely on the device plan’s data.

Public Wi-Fi Areas

A physical space or place that offers a public Wi-Fi connection often at no

cost, but in some instances for a fee. These spaces include downtown and recreational areas as well as public transit. Some places that offer public Wi-Fi

include coffee shops, restaurants, and retail stores which often comes a no cost but with the stipulation and/or pressure to purchase something from these

businesses. This highlights the need for public Wi-Fi areas that are no-cost with no expectation of one being a patron to a business.

Translate »