Bridging the Digital Divide
Study Results and Our Commitment to Progress
Overview
One of Mayor Tishaura Jones’ priorities when she took office was to address the Digital Divide in order to provide more opportunities for all. In 2023, in partnership with the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and Guidehouse, a consulting group, the City developed a Digital Inclusion Action Plan.
This site serves as an official announcement on the results. In our ongoing commitment to fostering inclusivity and ensuring equitable access to technology, we are thrilled to share the findings of this study and the recommended projects aimed at bridging the digital divide. This page will also link to project updates and other announcements in the future.
Join our ConnectSTL Digital Inclusion Coalition here!
Community WiFi now active in City of St. Louis Parks
Learn more about the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program ACP
Understanding the Digital Divide
In an increasingly digital world, access to technology and the internet is no longer a luxury but a fundamental necessity. Unfortunately, disparities in digital access persist, impacting educational opportunities, job prospects, healthcare access, and overall quality of life for many residents in our city.
The Consulting Study
Over the past year, the City, along with select external stakeholders, worked with our consultants, Guidehouse Inc., to:
- Build upon the previous assessment of the issue published by the Community Foundation and Regional Business Council
- Understand the market, legislative, socio-economic forces in play
- Leverage the the assets the City could leverage in proposed projects
- Engage internal and external stakeholders, including residents
- Identify funding sources
In order to arrive at a set of recommendations on how best to move forward.
Study Highlights
The St. Louis Digital Inclusion Action Plan outlines strategic priorities and actions that the City can undertake to improve equitable access to high speed internet and digital skills needed to succeed in today’s modern society.
The results of this study have provided a set of actionable recommendations. The focus on driving results in 3 main areas:
- Governance: empower local government, businesses and community stakeholders to collaborate in closing the digital divide.
- Affordability and Adoption: Improve equitable access to affordable high-speed internet and connected devices
- Digital Literacy and Training: Enable residents to experience the long-term benefits of technology.
Recommended Projects
The study highlights 10 projects and provides a roadmap on implementation. The City and SLDC commit to implementing most of these recommendations and also seeding a Digital Inclusion Fund to incentivize local organizations to assist with our efforts. Some of these details are worked out, however, we realize that we will need to work alongside existing efforts and partner with organizations already doing great work in this space.
Our Commitment to Collaboration
We recognize that addressing the digital divide requires a collective effort. We are committed to working closely with community organizations, local businesses, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to implement these projects effectively. Our intent is not to duplicate services already available but rather try to plug gaps or bolster existing efforts to increase their impact.
The Collective Impact Article by Stanford Social Innovation Review is a model for collaboration.
National Digital Inclusion Alliance Coalition Guidebook details building a coalition for Digital Equity.
Get Involved (ConnectSTL Coalition)
We encourage residents, businesses, and organizations to join us in this important endeavor. Your support, ideas, and engagement are vital to the success of these initiatives. One area we have been focusing energies on as we awaited the publishing of these results is developing a stronger Digital Inclusion Coalition for the region to amplify all of our efforts.
On December 5, 2023, the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) hosted the #ConnectSTL Digital Inclusion Summit. Held at the Microsoft Technology Center, the event kicked off the #ConnectSTL Digital Equity & Inclusion Coalition, which seeks to encourage collaboration and cooperation with technology-driven businesses and community stakeholders interested in helping to bridge the digital divide in St. Louis. The first quarterly meeting of the ConnectSTL coalition was held on February 9th, 2024 at the Delmar Divine. The second quarterly meeting was held at World Wide Technology on May 3rd, 2024. The third quarterly meeting was held at the Urban League Headquarters on September 6th, 2024. View ConnectSTL Documents on our ConnectSTL documents page.
We welcome you to join our quarterly meetings to contribute and collaborate on our digital equity and inclusion efforts.
Conclusion
We are committed to ensuring that all residents have equal access to the opportunities and resources that today’s digital economy offers. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and digitally connected community.
Contact
Simon Huang
Chief Technology Officer
Office of the Mayor and SLDC
huangs@stlouis-mo.gov
Sheila Rabbitt
Broadband Analyst
St. Louis Development Corporation
rabbitts@stlouis-mo.gov