According to the National Skills Coalition, the digital divide isn’t just about access to broadband, computers, and other hardware; it’s also about access to skills. This new research demonstrates the urgency and the payoff if Washington directs a significant portion of these resources to high-quality digital skills training programs: 92% of today’s jobs need digital skills, and demand is consistently high across industries in Washington, including information (99%); healthcare (95%); arts, entertainment, and recreation (90%); and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting (86%). What’s more, these jobs, on average, earn 23% more money.
The critical importance of this new research, especially during Digital Inclusion Week, October 7-11, 2024, underscores the need to raise awareness around digital inclusion, its urgency & benefits. Even among young people entering the workforce, though, digital skills still need to be nurtured, built, and reinforced in school and at home with devices that can access the Internet. Internet Essentials tries to tackle the main issues faced by those in King County and across Washington State who have access to broadband at home but haven’t adopted it yet. The program provides low-cost devices, affordable broadband, and digital inclusion services to show the relevance of the Internet and how learning digital skills is critical to advancing in today’s economy.
Over a decade, Internet Essentials has connected 82,000 households in King County and more than 200,000 households statewide to the Internet, many for the first time. In a survey of Internet Essentials customers in Washington, 84% reported the service benefited their children’s education, like doing homework, studying, or participating in online learning. Further, 74% said it helped them manage personal finances, like paying bills, monitoring accounts, checking their credit score, or applying for loans. These success stories are a testament to the transformative power of digital skills training and broadband access, inspiring hope for a more digitally inclusive future.
Through our Internet Essentials Partner Program, school districts, cities, and community-based organizations can sponsor high-speed Internet services for low-income families, particularly those with K-12 students. We’ve partnered with non-profits to open nearly 100 Lift Zones, where students and adults in Washington can get online, participate in learning and workforce development training, and access critical resources. We also provide digital skills booklets available in nine languages. The booklets are free to download at partner.internetessential.com by creating a login, selecting Partner Resources and choosing Your First Computer-Digital Skills Booklet.
As we recognize Digital Inclusion Week this year, one thing is clear: we need to continue work to increase Internet access and adoption, help people get online, build digital skills, and open doors to economic mobility. Comcast is committed to this cause and will continue to advocate for digital skills training and broadband access in Washington State, providing reassurance of our dedication to this important mission.
