In 1976, the Apple I computer first hit the market. Although in the beginning, evidence showed there was slow growth in sales for this innovative technological breakthrough. But from 1984 to 2015, there was a 72 percent increase in the number of people who owned a household computer (Longley, 2021). With an increase in internet capabilities, the number of households with digital access is increasing each year. Today, educators depend on digital technology in the classroom, and therefore the digital divide in education has been established (Steele, 2018).

According to Pew Research Center, 87% of households in America have access to some type of digital technology.

Whether it is a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, or other devices with internet capabilities, 73% of those users have access to internet yet there is still a digital divide. Although these users have access to the internet, the issue lies with access to high-speed broadband (Vogel, et al., 2020). Marginalized areas comprised of low-income households, people of color, cultural-linguistic learners, people with accessibility needs, or living in rural areas are greatly affected by the lack of accessible internet access (Vogel, et al., 2020).

The effects of digital divide have caused an academic setback for students during the inception of the coronavirus pandemic. The transition to online learning for students magnified the effects of digital divide and continues to deteriorate. A recent study conducted finds that the impact of digital divide has been prevalent in underserved or low social economic developed students and districts (School of Education Online 2020). The digital disparity has been magnified within individual learners. Schools have been implementing more technology in the classroom but have been unable to serve the needs of students in the learning process. It has been a struggle to teach each student how to use it. The lack of user end documentation and available training resources are the missing element in advancing their academic capabilities (Vogel, et al., 2020). A recent student conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics discovered examine a correlation between cultural divide and digital divide. The number of learners ages 5- to 17-year-old with no or little access to high quality internet differs by race/ethnicity. Learners who do not have access to high-speed internet in their homes are greatly affected and these statistics identify a racial discrepancy in digital learning. Learners affected by digital divide based on their ethnicity:

• 27% of American Indians
• 19% of Blacks
• 17% of Hispanics
• 12% of Pacific Islanders
• 7% of two or more races
• 7% of Whites
• 3% of Asians

Through the expansion of technology, the lives of learners in and out of the classroom are affected. While the advancement of technological resources in education is growing, the digital divide is rooted in the learner's ability to access high quality internet. Over the past two years, we have seen an increase in the quality of technology used to advance pedagogical methods (Vogel, et al., 2020). Technologies like VR, AR, virtual classrooms, live streaming capabilities, and technology powered by Artificial Intelligence, none of this lends to a positive learning environment for students with low quality internet. It is imperative for educators to address this issue head on. It is the responsibility of institutions to combat the barriers to technology and access to effectively use these technologies (School of Education Online 2020).

A constructive alternative to this problem would be free internet for all (Bardach & Patashnick, 2020) Although this concept sounds unattainable and improbable, it is not that far fetch. At the height of the pandemic, Congress attempted to make this idea a reality. The was a first-of its-kind effort to assist communities that struggled with accessing high speed internet. Most of these stakeholders could not afford to lose their access to internet for various reasons. This substantial act demonstrated an ability to help millions of low-income families gain access to high-speed internet. During the pandemic this was also an essential element of promoting eLearning resources for students who come from low-economic environments. But this ambitious plan did not deliver the desired outcome for families seeking these free resources. Telecom giants took advantage of this opportunity by increasing prices, establishing service cuts, and opened the door to fraud risk that damaged customers and taxpayers (Romm, 2022).

The efforts to close the gap of the country's digital divide cost the government roughly $17 billions. Under this attempt at a great promise, the government offered to pay stipends to internet providers to decrease customers monthly internet bills to essential zero. This modest idea of free internet for all was met by complex and objectionable results. In the inception of this effort, telecom giants including Verizon, AT&T, Charter Communications, and others obligated their consumers to accept price increases or slower internet speeds if they wanted to apply federal funded discounts to their monthly bills (Romm, 2022).

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom invested $6.5 billion to expand broadband infrastructures and improve internet accessibility to unserved and underserved communities in the state. On October 13th, 2022, construction begin in San Diego County to expand broadband infrastructures to 10,000 miles long. This effort is to bring high-speed internet to all California residents regardless of where they live.

California is now one step closer to making the digital divide a thing of the past," said . "We're starting construction today to get affordable high-speed internet in every California home because livelihoods depend on equitable access to a reliable and fast internet connection. This is about ensuring that all Californians, no matter the zip code they call home, can be part of the Golden State's thriving and diverse economy" (Romm, 2022).

Governor Newsom

Governor Newsom's plan will be the nation's largest network and cover the entire start of California to lend reliable, affordable, and accessible high-speed internet to millions of Californians who do not have access to quality broadband speeds. Currently, one in every five residents of California do not have access to reliable internet. Once the project reaches its totality, it will ensure that all families in California have affordable broadband services (Romm, 2022).

Bridging the digital divide is complicated and intimidating, but there are reasons for optimism. Public and private institutions will benefit from the decision to address this issue. The pandemic experience reminds us of the real costs of the digital divide that will have overlooked for far too long. Learners without appropriate broadband speeds suffered greatly. We have to focus on the bigger picture of the digital divide. Residents of internet deserts missed vaccine appointments snapped up by internet-enabled non-residents. Disadvantaged underprivileged communities felt insufficient high-speed internet access as jobs and job searches went remote. We now have an uncommon coalition agreement on the necessity of addressing this obstacle. This is how we take action to become change agents in making this country a digitally accessible one (Chakravorti, 2021).