Maryland is taking the right steps towards digital equity, but there is more to be done

By MaryAnne Onianwah

According to the American Immigration Council, 1 in 18 people lacked access to the internet in Maryland.

The digital divide, which is defined as the gap between those with internet access and those without it, affects millions of Americans throughout the country. However, Governor Wes Moore, community leaders and digital equity experts have taken the initiative these past few weeks to address these issues to create a more connected Maryland. 

On Nov 9., over a hundred people met in Annapolis for the first ever Maryland Digital Equity Summit. According to a news release from UMD’s iSchool, speakers and presenters from all over the state discussed and debated how to approach digital equity and inclusion in Maryland communities. 

Just 20 days later, Governor Moore announced a plan to work with 20 of the 23 counties in Maryland in bridging the digital divide. A $27.2 million investment from HP and Daly Computers will be used to ensure residents will have the technology for reliable high-speed internet by providing Maryland residents with laptops. 

These initiatives are a step in the right direction. They ensure that more and more Marylanders will have access to the internet, which will allow them to reach high social strata and achieve more. More Maryland residents will be able to apply for jobs, housing, and have greater access to educational resources and opportunities than ever before. However, looking back at the press releases and news for these initiatives, there is more work to be done. 

The $27.2 million investment seemed to only include chromebooks in this distribution, but there was no mention (as far as I could see) of these same residents being provided routers and other connectivity devices. While county libraries provide free internet access, not everyone has the means or time to travel to get internet access. These plans have forgotten that a laptop is just an expensive device without a router that acts as a gateway to the world wide web. 

Maryland, with these initiatives and plans, proves to be a leader in engaging with local communities in bridging the digital divide and creating digital equity. The state should, in their future plans, ensure that it continues to engage and include communities in these decisions as they work towards greater solutions.