HBCUs See Opportunity to Help Bridge the Digital Divide

Historically Black colleges and universities want the FCC to do more to address the digital divide for their students and surrounding communities that have been hit hard by COVID-19. Some advocate a partnership between federal agencies and HBCUs to ensure students and their communities are accurately represented as the FCC works to improve its broadband data maps.

The FCC announced a new broadband data task force earlier in February that aims to develop more precise maps about availability (see 2102170052). Bringing in all HBCUs could be a pragmatic way to ensure their students are fairly represented in the new maps, said schools like Delaware State University. “I think we would be very interested in that,” said Steven Newton, DSU presidential fellow for media relations and executive communications.

That could also give students and staff the opportunity to invest in the practical skills by involving them in the data collection process, Public Knowledge CEO Chris Lewis told us. “There could be a lot of spinoffs that could help HBCUs and continue to build a diverse cadre of future telecommunications lawyers and data analysts.” These schools can help gauge how widespread digital redlining is, Lewis said. A National Digital Inclusion Alliance and Communications Workers of America study released in October highlighted a limited number of cities, so data collection from HBCUs could help contribute, he said.

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement she's “committed to ensuring that no American is left offline and recognize[s] the role partner institutions such as libraries, schools, and higher education institutions like HBCUs play in achieving that goal.” The agency will coordinate with NTIA as it begins the work of its new Office of Minority Broadband Initiative, she said: That “puts in motion the funds Congress dedicated to helping close the digital divide in minority communities, including HBCU campuses and surrounding areas.”

“Fully understanding the size and scope of the digital divide in our country will require immense coordination,” an FCC spokesperson said. “You can’t fix a problem you can’t measure.” The FCC looks forward to “working with all our partners, including HBCUs, to help us build the best, most accurate map possible,” the spokesperson said.

Collaborating with the FCC on broadband mapping would be "tremendously beneficial," said Howard University President Wayne Frederick. "While HBCUs are doing what they can to discover these issues and support students through these challenges, a partnership with the FCC would magnify our institutions’ efforts," he said. "We could discover more information about where broadband connectivity is low and generate more solutions about how to support students and their wider communities."

"The pandemic has created a stress test for our broadband network, and the results are disappointing," Frederick said. HBCUs are discovering "trouble spots" with limited broadband connectivity, which is hampering students’ educations, he said. "And, of course, this lack of connectivity has other consequences as well, including making it harder for individuals in those communities to sign up for appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine," Frederick said.

DSU is in “initial phases” of developing a plan to partner with at least one ISP to create a nationwide “DSU hot spot” for students. DSU has been working to fill the technology gap by providing students with tablets or laptops. The school joined with Apple’s racial equity and justice initiative earlier in February to provide digital learning. Broadband access remained a concern after the campus switched to remote learning. About 50% of DSU students complained about significant connectivity issues, with 25-30% of those not having any access. “In the same way that the rural electrification programs during the New Deal connected millions of Americans to the national power grid, we need a national effort to connect everyone to a virtual global community,” DSU President Tony Allen told us. “To leave it undone permanently excludes millions of American people."

The university started a data mapping project about five years ago to identify retention and graduation rates by ZIP code. When the university went remote, officials noticed overlap in the ZIP codes where students complained of connectivity issues and those that had lower retention and graduation rates. If access affected current students’ ability, a spokesperson said, that meant access “probably affected their ability to be prepared to come here.”