The digital divide has been an ongoing equity issue that exacerbates disparities in educational achievement, health, civic participation and economic mobility. 

In October 2020, Public Policy Associates of Michigan found that 25% of school-age children in Michigan do not have proper digital tools at home. 

In an effort to help bridge the digital divide, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order establishing the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) to make high-speed internet more affordable and accessible.

According to a press release, the new office will be dedicated to coordinating and advancing the state's efforts to ensure that every home and business has access to an affordable, reliable high-speed connection. 

The state shared that an estimated 865,000 households are disconnected due to the cost of subscribing to services or purchasing an appropriate device, a lack of digital skills or other related barriers.   

"COVID-19 has only confirmed how the lack of high-speed internet access can cause too many Michiganders to struggle in their ability to engage in online learning, to use telemedicine to seek needed healthcare, to search for a new job or to take advantage of all the online resources," Whitmer said. "A fully connected Michigan is essential for our state to reach its economic potential in the 21st century global economy."  

Michigan philanthropy has been working to help bridge the digital divide, especially throughout the pandemic.

As CMF reported, The Skillman Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are part of the Connected Futures partnership, a cross-sector collaborative that collectively raised $23 million to provide Detroit Public Schools Community District students with tablets and internet access so they could engage in remote learning.

Additionally, CMF members DTE Energy Foundation, The Skillman Foundation and Quicken Loans Community Fund joined other funders to form the Tech Fund for Detroit Students to bridge the digital divide for charter school and high-need private school students in the city.

In the early days of the pandemic, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund partnered with the Ethel & James Flinn Foundation, the Metro Health Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation to accelerate telehealth in Michigan. The grants awarded nearly $3 million to 61 Michigan organizations ramping up their remote care efforts. The partnership and grants were expedited in response to public health risks of in-person care due to COVID-19.

Increasing access to broadband has been an integral part of CMF’s advocacy efforts throughout the pandemic.

CMF’s Government Relations and Public Policy (GRPP) team have sent dozens of letters to policymakers are the state and federal levels advocating for increased access to broadband since the pandemic unfolded and many functions of our society went virtual.

CMF has raised concerns around reliable internet access as a necessity for learning as well as the critical nature of utilizing the internet to connect with nonprofits to access services providing food, rental assistance, job training and social and emotional supports. 

In late 2020, CMF sent a letter to Congress to invest a minimum of $15 billion in emergency funds to support broadband internet access. The federal COVID relief package that passed in December 2020 provided a total of $7 billion for broadband activities.

CMF’s advocacy efforts around this issue have continued, especially during our engagement with policymakers as part of this year’s virtual Foundations on the Hill. As discussions at both the state and federal level about reinvesting in our communities continue, CMF will advocate for broadband access as part of that investment and look for ways for our CMF community to engage as leaders and thought partners.

Want more?

Read the full press release. 

If you have questions on CMF’s policy work or how to further advance your own organization’s advocacy work we invite you to connect with Regina Bell, director of government relations and public policy at CMF.