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Internet penetration in the U.S. stood at 90% in January 2021
However, as encouraging as this data is, there are some issues that need to be addressed.
About 21 MILLION Americans lack access to fixed broadband service (25/3 Mbps). This service is really needed for distance learning.
"Racial minorities, older adults, rural residents, and those with lower levels of education and income are less likely to have broadband service at home" (Pew Research Center, 2019).
The gap between high- and low-income households is one of the most evident issues.
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64%
High-income households
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18%
Low-income households
Proportion of adults that have home broadband services, a smartphone, a desktop or laptop computer and a tablet.
Among adults with household incomes below $30,000 a year
29%
44%
46%
don’t own a smartphone. 
don’t have home broadband services.
don’t have a traditional computer
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Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to be smartphone dependent:
They rely on their smartphone to access internet and don't have traditional home broadband service.
25%
proportion of smartphone dependency for black adults.
23%
proportion of smartphone dependency for hispanic adults.
12%
proportion of smartphone dependency for white adults.
They are also less likely to own a computer:
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58%
57%
82%
White
Black
Hispanic
Proportion of desktop or laptop computer owners.
College students 
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of college students in the U.S. do not have a laptop for school-
10%
That is almost 2 million people.
In a single North Carolinian county, almost 4,000 students were without computers to learn from home at the start of the pandemic.
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AFFECTS COLLEGE STUDENTS
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of college students in the U.S. do not have a laptop for school-
10%
That is almost 2 million people.
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In 
California:
102,000 low-income college students and 145,000 Black and Latin students may lack access to the internet. 
16% of undergraduate students say that the lack of access to technology necessary for online learning has been an obstacle.
In a single North Carolinian county, almost 4,000 students were without computers to learn from home at the start of the pandemic.
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109,000 low-income college students and 134,000 Black and Latin students may lack access to a proper device for virtual learning.
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Not only is there a gap in available wireless internet connection, but there is also the issue of ensuring students have the proper equipment to access the web and complete assignments.
-Samantha Hand
Powerful-E 
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