Afi Scruggs
Can Cleveland finally close its digital divide? A local nonprofit says it has a plan.
Cleveland’s twin problems of poverty and broadband access have made it the most disconnected major city in the country.
The Digital Divide: An Isolating Problem in Cleveland
Based on 2018 statistics from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, Cleveland (OH) ranks 33rd in the nation when it comes to completely unconnected households (27.42%), and ranks 33rd when it comes to homes without a wire line (44%). Cincinnati (OH) ranked 158th out of 625. About 17% of households have no broadband of any type. About 30% of households lack a wireline: fiber, cable or DSL. The city ranks 211st when it comes to those metrics. Solving the problem is taking many forms. Local libraries and community organizations offer computer labs and digital literacy training.