Financially struggling Mississippians lacking broadband

The digital divide affects Americans everywhere, but it's long known that it affects some areas more than others - rural areas and low-income urban enclaves. But a detailed study from the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) has concluded that Mississippians, and particularly African Americans, are near the bottom of the digital heap.

In Broadband In Mississippi: Toward Policies For Access Equity, CSI and the Mississippi State Conference NAACP paints a picture of inadequate and unacceptable communications access. Mississippi "ranks 48th among all the states and territories in availability of broadband technology. Nationwide, 82.2% of Americans have access to cable broadband, but only 42.2% of Mississippians have such access."

Specifically:

*    "Mississippians as a whole must choose among older, slower and less reliable technologies than their counterparts in other parts of the country;

*    Communities where people of color are the majority are underrepresented among the communities with the most provider options;

*    Residential broadband service costs range from 1% to 5.4% of the median household income of African American families in Mississippi compared to 0.5% to 3% of median household income of Whites in the state."

The problem is largely one of cost, with 32 percent of Mississippi residents avoiding the Internet solely because it is too expensive. And this problem has only gotten worse in recent years as the state poverty rose from 15 to 23 percent over the 2000 decade.

If Mississippi residents suffer continued or growing broadband deficits, social problems will only worsen. The reasons are clear and reinforced by previous studies, and Broadband in Mississippi summarizes:

"Lack of access affects their ability to search and apply for jobs, access and research healthcare options, apply for government services and stay informed about local and national news developments. Also, children and adults' capacity to learn suffers significantly when they cannot access the Internet."

As the president of the Center for Social Inclusion, Maya Wiley, said, "At a time when Mississippians need jobs, better schools and health care, it is critical that Mississippi innovate local broadband deployment that is fair and helps everyone in the state get connected, including its black citizens. The future of Mississippi is at stake."

Speed Matters further urges that Mississippi broadband providers participate in the reforming federal Universal Service Fund, and use subsidies to build out broadband in under-served areas.

Center for Social Inclusion (website)

Broadband In Mississippi: Toward Policies For Access Equity (Center for Social Inclusion, Jan. 2012)

Landmark Study Shows Race Predicts Access to Broadband in Mississippi (Center for Social Inclusion press release, Jan. 2012)

FCC reforms phone subsidy program for the poor (CNET, Jan. 31, 2012)