Understanding the Digital Divide in 2025

When was the last time you had an internet outage? For most of us, it’s a rare inconvenience — a few hours of not sending emails or watching the latest Netflix hit. However, this lack of connection is a full-time reality for millions of Americans impacted by the digital divide.

Because internet access is something many of us take for granted, it’s easy to overlook the gaps when planning stakeholder engagement and marketing efforts. Unfortunately, not taking this into consideration can lead to missed opportunities at best and, at worst, leave entire communities without critical information.

High-Speed Internet Coverage in the United States

A May 2025 report from the FCC noted that about 95% of homes and businesses have access to terrestrial broadband. The remaining 5% is concentrated in remote areas, tribal lands and scattered rural pockets throughout the country, where thousands of “unserved” areas remain due to geography and sparse infrastructure.

There is no doubt that progress has been made to increase access to high-speed internet, and, on paper, it gives the impression that the digital divide is nearly closed. In practice, however, infrastructure is only part of the problem.

Broadband availability has outpaced adoption

Widespread availability does not necessarily translate into affordability, device access or confident everyday use, as illustrated by the approximately 24 million Americans who remain “offline.” The sharpest gaps appear among lower-income households, as well as many Black and Hispanic communities, seniors and those in rural areas, including Appalachia and numerous tribal lands.

Rural vs Urban: A Growing Gap

Rural regions, including parts of Central Appalachia, also trail cities on device ownership and subscription rates, which depresses digital usage even as new fiber or fixed wireless arrives. According to the USDA, 22.3% of Americans in rural areas and nearly 28% of those on Tribal lands lack coverage from terrestrial broadband, compared to 1.5% living in urban areas. Concerningly, an analysis by Ookla showed that despite overall increases in broadband availability, the gap between urban and rural internet access grew in 32 states during the second half of 2024.

Cost Prevents Connection

Research from the National Digital Inclusion Alliance indicates that approximately 43% of low-income households struggle with internet affordability. Only 57% of those earning less than $30,000 per year have broadband, compared to 95% of those making over $100,000, according to Pew Research. Similarly, 31% rely on a smartphone for access compared to just 6% of those making $100,000.

In 2021, the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program  (ACP) was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand internet access. It provided subsidies to more than 23 million households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, and when the program came to an end in 2024, millions were disconnected.

A Demographic Disconnect

In 2024, home broadband adoption was 83% among white adults compared to 73% among Black and Hispanic adults. Overall, approximately 15% of Americans are reliant on mobile devices for internet access. For 19% of Black and 22% of Hispanic adults, a smartphone is the only window into the digital space, compared to 12% of white adults. Additionally, tribal communities face the deepest adoption shortfalls due to distance, affordability, device scarcity and limited in‑building infrastructure.

The Day-to-Day Impacts of the Digital Divide

People who lack reliable access to high-speed internet face daily challenges that impact all aspects of their lives. These obstacles limit their ability to engage and reinforce cycles of disadvantage.

Work and employment challenges

Remote work is inaccessible without high-speed internet. Jobs that rely on video calls, cloud collaboration or file sharing become out of reach. Limited access also blocks digital upskilling, online applications and even basic email use, restricting both hiring and advancement.

School and learning barriers

Students without broadband fall behind on coursework, virtual classes and digital resources. Teachers see persistent gaps in homework and digital skills, leaving children underprepared for a tech-driven workforce. During pandemic learning, families reported academic setbacks and lost peer interaction, widening achievement gaps.

Health and telehealth impacts

Telemedicine and online health portals depend on reliable internet. Without it, people cannot book appointments, attend virtual visits, refill prescriptions or access health records. Rural residents, older adults and those with chronic conditions are especially affected, often forced to travel for care that could be delivered remotely. This inequity is now recognized as a social determinant of health.

Financial, social and civic limitations

Banking and bill payment are simpler online but those without broadband rely on costly, time-consuming in-person errands that increase financial strain. Seniors miss video calls and online support groups, deepening isolation. Low-income families face barriers to benefits applications, often missing deadlines or losing support. Civic engagement also suffers as voter registration and community participation increasingly happen online.

Hidden challenges and persistent risks

Households relying only on mobile data face caps, unreliable speeds and small-screen limitations. In multi-family or rural settings, outdated wiring and infrastructure mean even paid broadband may not deliver a stable connection, prolonging digital exclusion.

Intergenerational and long-term effects

When parents cannot access online job training or financial tools and children lack digital homework support, the divide compounds across generations. Furthermore, those with limited connectivity are left without a reliable way to stay informed on community resources, local news and even emergency alerts. As a result, they are left behind, unable to catch up with an increasingly online world, deepening existing socioeconomic inequalities and limiting upward mobility.

Developing Stakeholder Engagement Strategies that Bridge the Gap

The digital divide directly undermines equitable outreach by filtering participation toward people with fast connections, devices and higher digital skills, so online‑first engagement alone will systematically miss lower‑income, older, rural, tribal and limited‑English residents whose input is crucial to legitimacy and better decisions.

Effective stakeholder engagement strategies must blend online and offline channels, prioritize inclusion and partner with trusted organizations to reach people who are otherwise excluded by access, affordability, skills and design barriers.At ARTÉMIA, we leverage a multi-channel approach to ensure residents with limited connectivity can still engage. This includes combining digital tactics with traditional ones, such as in-person outreach, mailers, radio PSAs, town halls or community events. Rural contexts especially require multi-channel approaches that fit local schedules and venues.

Recognizing the reliance on smartphones, we aim to make participation mobile-friendly but not mobile-only. This involves low-bandwidth pages, call-in numbers, transcripts and video alternatives, as well as plain-language, multilingual and accessible content to further lower participation barriers.

We work closely with community organizations, faith groups, libraries and coalitions that residents already trust to co-host events and share materials. In rural areas, local leaders are key allies in bridging both connectivity and trust gaps.

On tribal lands, equitable engagement requires early consultation, respect for sovereignty and tailored strategies that address remoteness, affordability and device gaps. In these instances, we coordinate with federal, state, tribal and private partners to ensure outreach matches residents’ ability to participate.

Ensure participation reflects the full community — not just the most connected

When engagement strategies account for affordability, access, skills and trust, communities that are often left out gain a voice in decisions that shape their lives. The strategic consultants at ARTÉMIA understand that true connection goes beyond digital boundaries and we can help you ensure that connectivity isn’t a barrier to engaging with your target audiences. Get in touch to schedule a free consultation.