Mapping Maryland's digital divide

Hello, Baltimore. I hope you're enjoying the weather. 

Below, you'll see a story we published yesterday that showcases a novel approach to understanding how the inability to access high-speed internet (or difficulty in accessing it) has disproportionate impacts throughout the state. The interactive Maryland Digital Equity Scorecard Index Map draws on information from a prior Abell Foundation report to denote what of the state's ZIP codes are most and least connected to the internet and tech. It also delineates how these disconnects may overlap with other demographics. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly: Rural districts and areas with comparatively high percentages of Black or Latinx residents are disproportionately struggling with lack of access to the kind of high-speed internet that is increasingly crucial for education, work and living. 

We encourage you to read this article, navigate the mapping tool yourself and let us know what this has shown you about Maryland and Baltimore's digital divide. Did you learn something new? Have you a novel approach to making the state more equitably connected? Let us know by responding to this email or sending another to baltimore@technical.ly.

– Technical.ly editor Sameer Rao (sameer@technical.ly)