City targets digital inequities

Digital Inclusion Week continues with a slate of virtual events designed to raise awareness about the digital divide between those with access to technology and those without. In the pandemic era, the gap between the connected and the not-connected is growing wider all the time, and digital inequities can have severe economic consequences. As the city’s Telecommunications Officer Rondella Hawkins puts it, “Imagine a single mom of three kids without internet during normal times. Now imagine the same family during the pandemic when all the schools are locked down and she has to work remotely. Access to online information is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for so many.” The city has partnered with the Digital Empowerment Community of Austin to create a full calendar of events for the week, from brainstorming solutions to technology training and support.