Gov. Ned Lamont plans to introduce legislation during Connecticut's 2021 session to make broadband internet more accessible to state residents, especially those in underserved households.
Western Governors University (WGU) is a leader in online higher education and supports the governor’s initiative. WGU, a MCG client, believes Lamont’s goal to provide broadband access to everyone is crucial not just for providing education but also for the growth of the state’s economy.
Rebecca Watts, Ph.D., regional vice president of WGU, was interviewed on the WPLR radio program ‘For the People’ about the importance of improving broadband access in Connecticut.
Addressing the digital divide
Watts says her data shows that more than 300,000 households in Connecticut still lack broadband. What’s startling is that there is a stark gap between households in poverty and of color compared to other residents. Or as Watts puts it, “Between the haves and have nots.”
By improving access to broadband, the state can address a major equity issue and help lift up vulnerable populations. This disparity has been magnified even more during the pandemic when online education is now a necessity for many. Lack of broadband is creating an even greater inequality in the educational experiences for students in the state.
It’s not just about K-12 education
While expanding broadband access will bolster K-12 education, it will also benefit working professionals, too.
Watts uses the health care industry in the state as an example. If someone wants education and training in the field but currently has a job and cannot go to a traditional brick and mortar school, they must rely on online opportunities.
WGU has hundreds of these types of students from Connecticut enrolled in their university. Watts says it’s not just traditional college students who are taking advantage of online programs like those of WGU. She points out that students in the university’s health care program are, “People at the bedside and people at senior leadership positions [who] are availing themselves to our opportunities.”
Ensuring that those who pursue higher education are not limited to online learning because of inadequate internet service is essential.
Advancing Connecticut’s economy
The governor’s proposal is not just important for the people directly impacted by lack of broadband but also for the state’s overall economic health.
When any organization is looking for a place to locate and grow, it’s imperative that the area has all the resources it needs. Watts says that one of the foundational resources is now broadband because it’s a vital business function in the 21st century.
“It’s critical for wooing industry to the state,” says Watts. “It’s also critical to keeping industry in the state.”
Putting their money where their mouth is
WGU believes that access to broadband is a policy issue, but that it should not be incumbent on just federal and state governments to address the broadband gap.
“We are ponying up a million dollars in access to scholarships for students who lack the ability to get high-speed internet and broadband,” says Watts. She says scholarships could mean paying for the broadband service or buying the hardware necessary for students to get high-quality internet service.
Watts also points out that rural and urban areas have different challenges. “We’re also trying to be sensitive about what the needs are to a specific community, specific to an urban area versus a rural area,” she says. While WGU is calling on policy makers to take action, the university is also looking for private partnerships in individual areas to help address the problem.