Learn

Understanding the Digital Divide

The digital divide refers to the gap between individuals and communities who have affordable access to reliable high-speed internet, modern devices, and digital literacy skills, and those who do not. Far more than a mere inconvenience, this divide reinforces social and economic inequalities. Without equal digital access, communities face significant barriers to essential healthcare, educational resources, career opportunities, and civic engagement. Addressing the digital divide requires a holistic strategy—one that ensures infrastructure is built, internet service remains affordable, and community members possess the skills and support needed to thrive online.

The State of Digital Connectivity in Pennsylvania Today

In Pennsylvania, the digital divide presents complex and pressing challenges across access, affordability, and adoption:

• Infrastructure & Access: While urban coverage sits at 99.4%, rural coverage lags behind at 81.4%, leaving roughly 156,000 homes and businesses in rural areas without access to reliable internet service. While federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding of $711 million is targeted to connect these areas, over 40,000 locations will receive service via satellite or wireless technologies that offer questionable speed and long-term reliability.
• Affordability: Affordability stands as the single largest barrier to broadband adoption across the Commonwealth. Following the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program in 2024, 763,000 low-income Pennsylvanians lost critical monthly support, forcing hundreds of thousands of households to choose between keeping internet service or paying for vital necessities like food and medicine.
• Adoption & Digital Skills: Access alone is insufficient without proper hardware and digital skills. With recent federal grant terminations leaving $65 million in state adoption programs unfunded, vulnerable populations—including rural communities, older adults, low-income households, and veterans—face mounting barriers to safely navigating today’s digital landscape.

Interactive Tool: Pennsylvania Broadband Digital Equity Atlas