16 Digital Divide and Rurality

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:

• articulate a clear, functional understanding of the definitions of “digital divide” and “rurality;”
• recognize how geographical and economic factors contribute to the digital divide, especially in analyzing how rural communities are impacted by price differentials and limited access to infrastructure; and
• evaluate the role of public libraries and initiatives in addressing this divide.

The digital divide is defined as “the gap between those who have affordable access, skills, and support to effectively engage online and those who do not” (NDIA, 2025). While the term “rurality” can have varied definitions based on the purpose of its usage, the U.S. Census Bureau defines “rural” as “any population, housing, or territory not in an urban area” (U.S. Department of Agriculture, n.d.).

The Problem

Much of the figurative “digital divide” can be traced to a more literal one––that of simple geography. A 2018 Pew Research Center survey found 24% of adults in rural areas were more likely to have difficulties gaining access to high-speed internet, compared to only 13% of adults in urban areas (Vogels, 2021). This is partly due to socioeconomic factors, such as poverty, age, and location, which create a lack of resources needed for proper access.

The Cost of the Location Divide

Due to the market-based nature of broadband internet access, more far-flung locations disincentivize companies from investing in rural areas. This makes high-speed internet more expensive relative to distance from a major metropolitan area. Physical location already plays a significant role in population construction, wages, and access to public services such as libraries, schools, and other information centers; it also directly impacts how information reaches homes themselves. Digital Planet, an ongoing Tufts University research initiative, aggregates data relating physical location to broadband affordability and access. Utilizing data from, among other sources, the U.S. Census Bureau and the internet consumer reports service Broadband Now, Digital Planet provides visual representation of those costs.

Below are two communities, one rural and one urban. The two charts from Broadband Now show the difference in broadband prices and population density per square mile by zip code (Torng, 2022). These are the lowest prices offered by any provider to install wired broadband. The charts show that prices in the 52001 zip code—Dubuque, Iowa, an urban area—are much cheaper compared to those in the zip code of 50682—Winthrop, Iowa, a rural community. Location plays a part in population, wages, and accessibility for libraries, information centers, and family.

Impact of Public Libraries on the Rural Digital Divide

For those who lack internet access at home, libraries can be the only source of broadband internet access. On June 7th, 2019, the Public Library Association announced the DigitalLead: Rural Libraries Creating New Possibilities program (“Public Library Association Expands Access,” 2019). This program used $400,000 of funding from Microsoft to provide digital resources and training to rural libraries, including hotspots (“DigitalLead,” n.d.). An increasing number of libraries are adding hotspots to their circulating collections, and these continue to be in high demand, frequently having long holds lists (American Library Association, 2024). These can be a particularly effective tool in rural areas to counter the lack of infrastructure or resources which allow residents in-home internet access.

In early 2020, while libraries in the United States closed their doors to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft donated $120,000 to the Public Library Association to fund the addition of Wi-Fi access points outside of library buildings in rural areas. This allowed patrons to access Wi-Fi from a public resource while continuing to practice social distancing (“PLA and Microsoft Public WIFI Access Micro Grant Program,” 2020). A 2019 grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services allowed communities to use broadband Wi-Fi through “unused parts of the television broadcast spectrum.” The first phase made it so five libraries could install “TV white space base stations” in their communities which let them extend library Wi-Fi beyond the actual library building (Landgraf, 2019).

Beyond the physical access that libraries provide for digital resources (e.g. Wi-Fi, hotspots, and public access computers), public libraries can also provide user support in their rural communities. Although urban libraries tend to offer a greater volume and variety of support options commensurate with their larger staff and budgets, small rural libraries also promote technology training and resources that focus on technology skill development (Gregg & McKendry, 2019). Promoting the use of technological resources and providing education through programming and one-on-one help sessions, libraries of all sizes play a role in ensuring equitable access to information.

Looking Ahead

In 2022, the entire United States—including all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands—were invited to submit a letter of intent to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Following the letter of intent, each “Eligible Entity” then had the option to submit an application for Initial Planning Funds. On June 30th, 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced the amount of funding each Eligible Entity would receive of the $42.45 billion grant (“Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program,” n.d.).

BEAD prioritizes areas considered “unserved” (without access to 25/3 Mbps) and “underserved” (without access to 100/20 Mbps). Implementation began in 2024 and will take place over an estimated four-year time period (“Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program,” n.d.).

Some of the ways Eligible Entities may use their funding include fiber optic cable routing (“Bead Allocation Methodology,” n.d.), training programs, and Wi-Fi installation in residential facilities (“Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program,” n.d.).

Key Takeaway

Rural communities often experience limitations in broadband access and technical infrastructure. Libraries serve as critical access points by offering connectivity, devices, and assistance for everyday digital tasks.