Microsoft has already worked before to reduce the digital divide by boosting internet access in rural areas of the United States through its Airband Initiative. In cities, however, reliable, affordable internet connectivity is not always available. The company is now focusing on urban regions, with the Airband program extending to Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York City, El Paso, and Memphis.
Despite the presence of broadband infrastructure in certain locations, connectivity remains out of reach for many due to service and device fees. As Airband general manager Vickie Robinson described it in a blog post, “access to fundamentals of life is out of reach for millions.” According to Robinson, the problem is “especially serious in Black, African American, Latinx, and Hispanic populations.”
Microsoft intends to provide free or low-cost reconditioned devices to allow individuals in underserved neighborhoods in those eight cities to access the internet in order to minimize the cost of broadband service. It will also provide tools and resources to assist people in learning or improving their digital abilities. To that end, the company is collaborating with a number of partners, including PCs for People and DigitalC.
One of the methods Microsoft is taking to bridge the digital gap is a financing scheme for low-cost broadband customers of an ISP named Starry who have low credit scores or no credit history.
The extension of Airband into cities is also part of Microsoft’s Racial Equity Initiative. The program was announced last summer with the purpose of tackling racial bias and injustice for the Black and African American communities in the United States.
Meanwhile, efforts are being made at the federal and state levels to bridge the digital gap. President Biden’s infrastructure proposal includes internet expansion, while California Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget includes a $7 billion public broadband project.