The outbreak of COVID-19 and the events that have followed
have reminded us of the inequities that persist in our society. Sadly, public
health data suggests that racial and ethnic minorities are suffering
disproportionately, experiencing higher rates of infection, death, and economic
dislocation.
In addition to dealing with the health and economic impacts
of the virus, members of the AAPI community in the U.S. are confronting
unfounded and unfair racist and prejudice attitudes. In fact, hate crimes
against Asian Americans have soared since the outbreak. As Asian Pacific
Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) has always worked towards an equitable
and unified world, addressing these issues is of the utmost urgency for our
organization.
Even in this challenging time, there is cause for optimism –
rooted in the power of technological innovation to help address the
unprecedented social and economic hardships facing our society. Specifically,
expanding access to broadband internet service will yield dividends for the
millions of Americans that depend on it to work and learn from home, search for
up-to-date public health and safety information, and to carry on with daily
life under this “new normal.”
Many members of the Asian and Pacific Islander American
community have stayed at home for the past few months to flatten the curve and
reduce the spread the of the virus. For those of us with access, broadband has
been the thread that has allowed us to remain prosperous during the pandemic
and has even helped us maintain some sense of normalcy. Broadband has connected
millions of Americans to work, education, entertainment and healthcare on a
scale that had never existed before. In fact, at the height of the crisis,
internet traffic jumped 27 percent.
Although broadband has proved to be reliable throughout the
pandemic for those with access to it, those without access have found
themselves to be more disadvantaged than ever before. The result has been
catastrophic for these individuals and has left small businesses closed, K-12
students academically behind and patients without critical care.
Due to structural disparities, many Americans cannot afford
broadband service or cannot access it where they live. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that 18 million people lack broadband
internet service. Additionally, other experts have found that 15 percent of
households with school-aged children do not have access to a high-speed
internet connection at home. This crisis has made it clear that all Americans
need access to reliable broadband. We must ask our lawmakers to work towards effective
solutions that address these structural inequalities.
The COVID-19 outbreak has left Americans begging for a sense
of normalcy. If we can achieve universal broadband, we can emerge from this
crisis better than before – better than “normal.” Access to the internet allows
us to obtain information from credible experts that will help keep all
communities safe, it helps us receive news and media so we can hold our leaders
accountable, and most importantly it bridges societal gaps that currently leave
too many Americans behind.
The time to act is now. The Asian Pacific Islander American
community must come together and demand a more equal playing field for all.
That means calling on our elected officials in Washington to take concrete
actions to invest in our nation’s digital infrastructure and make universal
broadband a reality for the communities that most need it.
