Lake County to take lead on expanding internet access and closing digital equity gap; ‘This is life-changing’
The internet is an integral part of daily life, providing access to education, health care, work, business and social services.
However, access to high-speed internet varies, with many Lake County households lacking access to internet, computers, devices or even the knowledge to navigate digital devices, creating a digital equity divide and exacerbating existing inequalities, according to the county’s broadband plan.
A strategy and goal-based plan to increase high-speed internet access across the county was approved by the county’s special committee on broadband last week.
The plan — driven by community engagement, data and prepared by Guidehouse Consulting — outlines a number of short-, medium- and long-term projects geared toward increasing broadband access, with the county serving as a coordinator of existing efforts by community organizations.
Big-picture goals for the plan include increasing collaboration across organizations in broadband access services, removing barriers to internet access, improving digital device affordability, creating opportunity for internet infrastructure installation, expanding public internet access and closing the digital equity divide through a number of strategic actions.
Committee chair Jennifer Clark, D-Libertyville, praised the committee and consulting group for creating a path forward for internet expansion, with room for the plan to evolve and change.
“This is life-changing for people to be able to have a secure device that they know how to use,” Clark said. “They can apply for a job or apply for benefits, do their school work, work remotely, do telehealth, because that’s what we’re providing access to.”
Lack of access
The lowest rates of internet adoption are concentrated in Lake County communities that face compounding socioeconomic challenges, according to the broadband plan.
While areas near Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion and Beach Park, have high levels of internet availability, households face barriers to broadband adoption.
Nearly 34,000 county residents reside in “high vulnerability” census tracts, meaning more than 30% of households without a wireline subscription, do not own a desktop or laptop, live below the poverty line and belong to a racial or ethnic minority.
About 8%, or 19,400, county households do not have an internet subscription of any kind, including through a cellphone data plan, according to U.S. census data. In addition, about 19%, or 47,600, households do not have access to an at-home broadband subscription such as cable, fiber or digital subscriber line (DSL).
More than 14%, or 35,800, households do not own a desktop or laptop, and another 4%, or 11,000, households do not own a digital device of any kind, the data revealed. Over 14,000 households rely on a smartphone as their only digital device.
County Board member Carissa Casbon, D-Gurnee, said the broadband expansion plan is one of the most exciting and impactful projects she will work on while on the panel.
During the height of COVID-19 when school was virtual, Casbon saw firsthand how students without adequate internet access were disproportionately impacted by their educational opportunities.
Affordability of devices and subscriptions is one of the most significant barriers to internet access, driving digital inequities among low-income households, according to an analysis of research and stakeholder feedback for the county’s broadband plan.
In the county, 28% of households with annual incomes below $20,000 did not have a broadband subscription, the analysis found.
Expanding access
To execute broadband access goals, the county will take a lead role in coordination by hiring a digital equity manager and broadband coordinator to drive the plan’s implementation.
“I found out that there’s basically a patchwork quilt of services being provided by community organizations,” Casbon said. “So (the county) can be a convener, and coordinate all of these different efforts so everybody’s effort will have more impact in bridging the digital equity divide.”
The plan to close the digital divide follows three core goals: availability and access, adoption and affordability, governance and sustainability.
Nearly $12 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was allocated to be used for broadband expansion and access projects.
Strategic recommendations and projects are included in the plan to accomplish the primary goals. Some of the recommendations include to pilot public Wi-Fi hot spots, coordinate a device distribution campaign and digital literacy program, and expand digital navigators to provide support services to residents.
One of the main tenets of the expansion plan is to collaborate with local partners to drive the digital inclusion efforts, which the county intends to accomplish by hiring two full-time county broadband staffers.
A digital equity resource website, broadband and digital equity coalition and dedicated digital equity fund, are also recommendations for increasing coordination among the county and existing organizations.
Members of Connect Lake County, a community organization offering digital support and solutions for residents, spoke during public comment at the Dec. 1 meeting, requesting the county consider investing in their program of existing digital navigators.
James Harris, lead digital navigator of Connect Lake County, said the organization has already identified the barriers to access, are distributing devices, delivering digital skills training and have made partnerships with other community organizations such as the public libraries and Lake County Housing Authority.
“Our name is recognized. When someone calls me, there’s no doubt that they know they’re gonna get help,” Harris said. “Connect Lake County has established itself in the community, and with those organizations and the areas where people are most vulnerable.”
Casbon said it’s too early in the process to know which community organizations the county will work with, and the future broadband coordinator will be the person to make those connections.
During the meeting, Clark said it is likely that community organizations will be asked to fill out applications if they want to work with the county.
The strategic framework for internet expansion is designed to stretch over three years, beginning in 2024, in tandem with the ARPA funding. The next steps for the county include hiring the staff members who will begin executing the plan.
