While documents from the county have indicated a belief that, contrary to FCC data, there are portions of our area that are unserved or underserved when it comes to broadband infrastructure, there is no doubt that if true, this claim would only account for a very small fraction of county residents.
As a lifelong south Oak Cliff resident, I can tell you, underserved residents don’t have years to wait for the network to be built, we need affordable options today.
But overall, the crux of the focus needs to be on addressing affordability and adoption-related barriers, as these are the primary drivers of the county’s digital divide. The good news is, the county has taken necessary steps to combat both issues, partnering with theThe program, which will recruit volunteers and work with libraries and other community organizations, can combat affordability and adoption challenges in two ways.
As a businessman, I know there is always more than one way to achieve a given goal, and this issue proves to be no different. There are various proposals and mechanisms at our disposal to tackle the important issue of digital equity. My hope is that policymakers will stay focused on the solutions that address the core challenges and get residents online in the most expeditious manner possible.
Matt Canto is a small-business owner, Oak Cliff native and a former Dallas City Council candidate. He wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.