Community Voices Shape East Baton Rouge’s Path to Digital Equity

Casey Phillips (left) and Gary Chambers (right) discuss the Digital Equity Plan

The Digital Equity conversation at the Sow Good Community Resource Festival on October 12, 2024, hosted by Gary Chambers and Casey Phillips, centered on bridging the digital divide in East Baton Rouge Parish. Drawing from the parish’s Digital Equity Plan, the discussion emphasized the critical role of affordable broadband, access to devices, and digital literacy for all residents, especially in underserved communities. Chambers and Phillips stressed that digital equity is essential for full participation in modern society—whether for work, education, healthcare, or civic engagement.

Local resident poses questions regarding digital access.

Affordability emerged as a key barrier to digital access, particularly in low-income and minority-majority neighborhoods like the Plank Road Corridor, where up to 40% of households lack internet subscriptions. While broadband infrastructure exists in much of the parish, many residents cannot afford reliable service. Programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) have helped address this issue, but more outreach is needed to raise awareness and boost participation.

In rural areas, the challenge is more about availability. Broadband service providers often overlook these communities due to low population density and high infrastructure costs. Chambers and Phillips discussed how initiatives like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) challenge can help bring funding to these underserved regions.

Digital literacy is another critical challenge, with 17.8% of residents considered digitally savvy. Community institutions, especially the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, play a key role in providing digital literacy training and free internet access. Programs like DigitalLearn.org and Cell-Ed offer digital skills education, but there is a need to expand these efforts to reach more residents, particularly through initiatives like digital navigators who assist people in using online services.

In addition to broadband access and literacy, the lack of affordable devices was discussed as a significant obstacle. Many low-income families simply cannot afford computers or tablets. The Digital Equity Plan proposes partnerships with public institutions and private organizations to provide low-cost or refurbished devices, which are critical for connecting residents to the digital world.

A central theme of the conversation was the importance of community feedback in shaping the Digital Equity Plan. Both hosts emphasized that the plan must reflect the values and needs of the people it is designed to serve. Engaging with residents through surveys, community meetings, and stakeholder sessions is essential to ensure that the plan addresses the real barriers people face, such as affordability, access to devices, and digital skills training.

Casey Phillips expands on the Digital Equity conversation.

Chambers and Phillips closed the discussion with a call to action: community participation is crucial for achieving digital equity in East Baton Rouge Parish. By gathering feedback from residents, policymakers can create a plan that effectively bridges the digital divide and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to succeed in the digital age.