Closing the 'Digital Divide:' Affordable Internet Programs Help Eligible Residents

Mecklenburg County is working to close the "digital divide" and make internet service and the benefits of technology more affordable and available to residents. That includes promoting programs to help residents pay for the internet and to get them online.

The County is spreading the word about the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which helps low-income households pay for internet service and devices such as a laptop or tablet. A resident likely qualifies with a household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if they or someone in the household receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch.

An eligible household could receive up to a $30 per month on internet services, a one-time discount of up to $100 on a device, and a low-cost service plan.

Residents can visit www.AffordableConnectivity.gov to learn if they qualify and apply for their benefits.

The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to technology and digital services, and those who do not. At least 1.1 million North Carolina households lack access to high-speed internet, can't afford it or lack the skills, according to the N.C. Department of Information Technology.

Lack of access to technology affects all generations and all sectors of the community—students, employers and their workforces, health care patients, senior and disabled citizens, and other residents. North Carolina plans to address the issue by investing nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds toward infrastructure access and digital literacy.

Mecklenburg County is already working locally on closing the divide. DSS's Services for Adults division and its partners are offering programs to enhance the digital skills of older adults, which aligns with the Age Friendly Mecklenburg Action Plan. Through a grant from Google, the AARP Foundation has launched the Digital Skills Ready@50+ program—an initiative to provide technology and digital skills training to people over 50 who are living with low income, with a particular focus on women and people of color.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library also provides a range of technology training options for all ages through "DigiLit," its digital literacy programming. The trainings include workplace tools, basic digital skills, social media, mobile devices, and more.