In a period of rising reliance on modern technology for education, job opportunities, and communication, the digital divide threatens numerous underserved communities. Recognizing this issue, Los Angeles County and Delete The Divide have launched a joint initiative providing free computer assistance and digital training to the local community, including small business owners.
.@LACountyLibrary & @deletethedivide are now offering FREE computer assistance & digital training to community members & small businesses. Digital Assistants are ready to help you in-person with tech support & accessing online resources.
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) October 12, 2023
Learn more: https://t.co/tV8q2jXouo pic.twitter.com/nm4smNMuaq
As per LA County Library, participating institutions provide tech support, access to online resources, and digital literacy training. This is aimed to effectively tackle the digital divide's limitations. In addition to this, the program offering enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program, this initiative can discount up to $30 from a household's monthly internet bill.
Considering the admission by the LA County Board of Supervisors of the digital divide's existence put a massive emphasis in 2020 on strategies to bridge the gap. The LA County Library defined digital divide as the discrepancy between demographics in the access to modern information and communication technology. Reportedly, in Los Angeles County, 6% of households lack a computer, with 12% living without a broadband internet subscription. Such disparities are more prominent in low-income areas, particularly among Black and Latino populations.
The shared vision between both county and Delete The Divide stands to empower both underserved youth, in addition to small businesses in their communities, ensuring that they are not marginalized in our increasingly digital world. The innovative strategy includes designating specific county facility workstations, such as libraries, to provide a point of access for residents without personal computers or internet access.
