Today, the internet is the medium through which people access healthcare, housing, employment, safety, and education. Access to the internet is an essential public good, as much as access to clean water, energy and transportation. Recent Census Bureau estimates indicate that 16-17% of households (about half a million) in New Jersey lack internet access. For New Jersey’s recovery from the pandemic to be successful, everyone should have the ability to access the internet at reasonable speeds with affordable prices regardless of their geography or income.
Extent of the digital divide in New Jersey
Before the pandemic necessitated many to work or learn from home, the digital divide throughout the country was apparent in terms of geography, class, and race. In 2018, NJ Spotlight published an interactive map, featuring American Community Survey (ACS) 2013-2017 estimates, that revealed access issues in low-income urban and rural areas in New Jersey, similar to the rest of the nation. According to the data, people in fewer than 60 percent of households could go online in the cities of Perth Amboy, Salem, Bridgeton, Camden, and Trenton, whereas at least 95 percent of households had internet access in 17 wealthier communities in the north or central parts of the state. It is important to note that ACS data only provides estimates and current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data conveys significant overestimates of internet coverage. To truly close the divide and achieve digital equity, it is important that we have the most up-to-date and accurate data possible.
What we can do about the digital divide in New Jersey
BroadbandNow claims that the two most effective ways state and local governments can improve their broadband situation are by: 1) creating better mapping and adopting smarter funding strategies and 2) promoting and encouraging community broadband solutions in low-competition areas. BroadbandNow further claims that both of these methods are at odds with the actions of dominant Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have contributed to inflated measurements of internet speeds and competition at the federal level and fought against municipal broadband. Thus, it is critical to first understand where and what type of coverage is available in New Jersey. An effective way to do this is through a statewide broadband office, which can not only collect data, but also communicate, coordinate, plan, and fund. Although COVID-19 is resulting in slashed state budgets, we can still look to examples like New York, Minnesota, Illinois, and Georgia, for inspiration and guidance.Community or municipal broadband refers to broadband internet access services that are provided either fully or partially by local governments. The benefit of municipal broadband, when done well, is that it provides high-speed internet with rates that are competitive with those of national ISPs. To date, no municipal networks exist in the state, but there is pending legislation (Assembly Bill A850) to create a “Community Broadband Study Commission” that would evaluate the feasibility of establishing community broadband networks. Public-private partnerships are another popular alternative for expanding access. In fact, some types of municipal broadband are achieved through these partnerships. In March 2020, another Assembly bill (A3649) was introduced that would require the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) to establish a statewide wireless network through a public-private partnership agreement, in which the private entity would assume responsibility for construction and cover some or all of the up-front costs.
The future of the digital divide in New Jersey
Currently, other organizations in the region are working to assess the situation in more depth and recommend specific policies to enact. For example, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is conducting a three-part study on broadband deployment and access throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. The first part, Discussing Technology, outlines broadband basics and deployment throughout the region. The upcoming second part, Understanding the Digital Divide, will cover the extent of the digital divide at the neighborhood level as well as its ramifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the third part, Bridging the Digital Divide, will feature policy recommendations.From the data we currently have, despite the lack of precision, we know that New Jersey is one of the most highly wired states, if not the highest, in the nation. Thus, it’s within our reach to become the first state to actually achieve full broadband coverage. Given how critical internet access is to quality of life and equitable, inclusive communities, closing the digital divide should be a priority for New Jersey as it recovers from the economic damage of the pandemic. If our government commits to obtaining updated data and exploring solutions for the communities most in need, we can cement our status as a broadband leader and prove that digital equity is integral to New Jersey’s future.See the full analysis here.
Related Blog
03/16/2026
03/16/2026
02/12/2026
02/05/2026
12/22/2025
08/12/2025
07/16/2025
07/15/2025
07/15/2025
07/01/2025
07/01/2025
07/01/2025
06/30/2025
06/30/2025
06/30/2025
06/26/2025
06/19/2025
06/19/2025
06/16/2025
05/21/2025
05/15/2025
04/22/2025
04/01/2025
03/14/2025
03/13/2025
02/18/2025
02/18/2025
12/02/2024
09/19/2024
08/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
07/30/2024
06/24/2024
06/24/2024
03/29/2024
03/29/2024
03/19/2024
03/19/2024
03/15/2024
01/29/2024
01/12/2024
12/18/2023
12/05/2023
12/05/2023
11/30/2023
10/12/2023
09/20/2023
09/18/2023
08/08/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/20/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/18/2023
07/17/2023
07/17/2023
07/17/2023
06/06/2023
05/17/2023
05/17/2023
05/11/2023
03/17/2023
03/16/2023
02/06/2023
01/31/2023
01/30/2023
01/20/2023
01/17/2023
01/04/2023
05/01/2023
04/19/2023
04/17/2023
11/29/2022
11/11/2022
10/25/2022
10/21/2022
10/18/2022
09/22/2022
09/21/2022
08/16/2022
08/09/2022
07/19/2022
07/19/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/11/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/08/2022
07/07/2022
07/07/2022
06/30/2022
06/29/2022
06/27/2022
06/24/2022
06/22/2022
06/10/2022
05/23/2022
05/23/2022
05/20/2022
04/25/2022
03/24/2022
02/22/2022
02/18/2022
01/19/2022
12/07/2021
12/02/2021
11/01/2021
10/13/2021
10/13/2021
10/13/2021
09/13/2021
09/13/2021
09/13/2021
09/13/2021
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
07/19/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/25/2021
06/24/2021
06/24/2021
06/24/2021
06/15/2021
06/15/2021
06/15/2021
05/06/2021
05/04/2021
04/30/2021
04/12/2021
04/12/2021
04/12/2021
03/15/2021
03/15/2021
03/15/2021
03/05/2021
02/15/2021
02/15/2021
02/11/2021
02/11/2021
02/10/2021
02/09/2021
01/15/2021
12/21/2020
11/10/2020
11/10/2020
11/09/2020
11/09/2020
10/14/2020
10/14/2020
09/15/2020
08/11/2020
08/06/2020
08/06/2020
08/06/2020
07/14/2020
07/14/2020
07/14/2020
06/12/2020
06/12/2020
05/26/2020
05/26/2020
05/06/2020
05/05/2020
05/05/2020
04/19/2020
03/11/2020
03/11/2020
03/02/2020
03/02/2020
02/17/2020
01/16/2020
01/13/2020
11/09/2020
10/14/2020
10/14/2020
09/16/2020
09/15/2020
09/04/2020
07/14/2020
07/14/2020
06/12/2020
06/10/2020
06/05/2020
06/03/2020
04/15/2020
04/15/2020
04/09/2020
03/13/2020
03/11/2020
03/09/2020
02/20/2020
02/17/2020
01/14/2020
01/07/2020
12/12/2019
12/11/2019
12/09/2019
11/11/2019
11/11/2019
10/15/2019
10/14/2019
10/14/2019
09/05/2019
09/04/2019
09/03/2019
08/13/2019
08/13/2019
08/13/2019
08/12/2019
07/17/2019
07/17/2019
07/16/2019
07/16/2019
06/03/2019
05/21/2019
05/13/2019
05/06/2019
05/03/2019
05/03/2019
04/24/2019
04/22/2019
04/10/2019
04/03/2019
04/03/2019
04/03/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/22/2019
03/18/2019
03/15/2019
03/13/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
02/27/2019
02/26/2019
02/04/2019
02/01/2019
01/31/2019
01/29/2019
01/23/2019
01/14/2019
01/10/2019
01/09/2019
01/02/2019
01/02/2019
12/17/2019
11/06/2019
11/06/2019
10/25/2019
10/18/2019
10/17/2019
10/11/2019
10/03/2019
09/25/2019
09/23/2019
09/09/2019
09/06/2019
09/06/2019
09/06/2019
09/04/2019
09/04/2019
09/04/2019
08/28/2019
08/28/2019
08/26/2019
08/19/2019
08/12/2019
08/09/2019
08/09/2019
07/29/2019
07/19/2019
07/19/2019
07/19/2019
07/16/2019
07/10/2019
07/03/2019
06/24/2019
06/21/2019
06/21/2019
06/10/2019
06/10/2019
06/07/2019
06/07/2019
06/07/2019
06/03/2019
06/03/2019
06/03/2019
05/23/2019
05/22/2019
05/20/2019
05/20/2019
05/20/2019
05/17/2019
05/17/2019
05/13/2019
05/10/2019
05/08/2019
05/08/2019
05/08/2019
05/08/2019
04/29/2019
04/29/2019
04/22/2019
04/19/2019
04/17/2019
04/17/2019
04/10/2019
04/10/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/29/2019
03/22/2019
03/22/2019
03/18/2019
03/15/2019
03/04/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
03/01/2019
02/27/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/25/2019
02/18/2019
02/18/2019
02/18/2019
02/18/2019
02/06/2019
02/04/2019
02/01/2019
01/30/2019
01/28/2019
01/28/2019
01/28/2019
01/25/2019
01/25/2019
01/25/2019
01/18/2019
01/18/2019
01/18/2019
01/18/2019
01/16/2019
01/10/2019
01/10/2019
01/07/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
01/04/2019
12/18/2018
12/06/2018
12/03/2018
11/07/2018
11/07/2018
11/05/2018
11/02/2018
10/26/2018
10/25/2018
10/23/2018
10/23/2018
10/12/2018
10/08/2018
10/02/2018
09/25/2018
09/12/2018
09/04/2018
08/17/2018
08/17/2018
08/13/2018
07/25/2018
07/24/2018
07/19/2018
05/31/2018
05/25/2018
05/16/2018
05/03/2018
05/01/2018
05/01/2018
04/26/2018
04/18/2018
04/10/2018
04/04/2018
04/02/2018
03/30/2018
03/29/2018
03/28/2018
03/27/2018
03/26/2018
03/20/2018
03/16/2018
02/06/2018
01/05/2018
01/04/2018
01/04/2018
12/20/2017
12/12/2017
12/06/2017
11/30/2017
11/27/2017
11/22/2017
11/17/2017
11/03/2017
10/25/2017
10/18/2017
09/28/2017
09/27/2017
09/19/2017
09/18/2017
08/31/2017
08/31/2017
08/14/2017
08/02/2017
07/24/2017
07/20/2017
07/14/2017
06/29/2017
06/28/2017
06/12/2017
05/26/2017
05/23/2017
05/05/2017
04/12/2017
04/11/2017
04/10/2017
04/05/2017
03/27/2017
03/23/2017
03/20/2017
03/20/2017
03/20/2017
03/17/2017
03/10/2017
02/21/2017
02/17/2017
02/16/2017
02/08/2017
02/08/2017
01/26/2017
01/24/2017
01/19/2017
01/19/2017
01/10/2017
01/10/2017
12/13/2017
12/06/2016
11/18/2016
11/16/2016
11/14/2016
11/08/2016
11/01/2016
10/20/2016
10/17/2016
10/12/2016
10/05/2016
09/28/2016
09/14/2016
08/22/2016
08/10/2016
07/28/2016
07/27/2016
07/13/2016
06/24/2016
06/23/2016
06/02/2016
06/02/2016
05/26/2016
05/25/2016
05/23/2016
05/20/2016
05/20/2016
05/18/2016
05/17/2016
05/16/2016
05/13/2016
05/04/2016
04/27/2016
04/19/2016
04/18/2016
04/11/2016
04/06/2016
04/04/2016
04/04/2016
03/28/2016
03/24/2016
03/23/2016
03/22/2016
03/17/2016
03/17/2016
03/15/2016
03/07/2016
02/23/2016
02/18/2016
02/18/2016
02/09/2016
02/05/2016
01/27/2016
01/26/2016
01/22/2016
01/19/2016
01/13/2016
01/07/2016
12/15/2015
12/15/2015
12/15/2015
12/08/2015
11/19/2015
11/10/2015
11/03/2015
10/28/2015
10/27/2015
10/26/2015
10/19/2015
10/06/2015
10/05/2015
09/24/2015
09/10/2015
09/01/2015
08/19/2015
08/14/2015
08/12/2015
08/04/2015
07/30/2015
07/27/2015
07/10/2015
07/10/2015
07/08/2015
07/01/2015
06/29/2015
06/22/2015
06/18/2015
06/15/2015
05/15/2015
05/13/2015
05/13/2015
05/05/2015
05/04/2015
04/28/2015
04/28/2015
04/22/2015
04/21/2015
04/13/2015
04/10/2015
04/10/2015
03/30/2015
03/26/2015
03/18/2015
03/18/2015
03/17/2015
03/12/2015
03/10/2015
02/27/2015
02/19/2015
02/18/2015
02/17/2015
02/06/2015
02/04/2015
02/02/2015
01/27/2015
01/23/2015
01/21/2015
01/20/2015
01/15/2015
01/15/2015
01/06/2015
12/19/2014
12/12/2014
12/10/2014
12/05/2014
12/02/2014
11/19/2014
11/17/2014
11/10/2014
11/06/2014
11/06/2014
11/01/2014
10/22/2014
10/21/2014
10/16/2014
10/09/2014
10/06/2014
10/06/2014
10/03/2014
10/02/2014
09/30/2014
09/23/2014
09/23/2014
09/18/2014
09/17/2014
09/16/2014
09/15/2014
09/11/2014
09/11/2014
09/09/2014
09/04/2014
08/27/2014
08/26/2014
08/25/2014
08/04/2014
08/01/2014
07/29/2014
07/25/2014
07/24/2014
07/02/2014
06/26/2014
06/26/2014
06/25/2014
06/23/2014
06/18/2014
06/18/2014
06/05/2014
06/03/2014
05/20/2014
05/16/2014
05/14/2014
05/06/2014
04/24/2014
04/17/2014
04/11/2014
04/10/2014
04/04/2014
04/04/2014
04/03/2014
04/03/2014
04/01/2014
04/01/2014
03/21/2014
03/20/2014
03/20/2014
03/20/2014
03/20/2014
03/11/2014
03/07/2014
03/05/2014
02/25/2014
02/20/2014
02/18/2014
02/18/2014
02/14/2014
02/12/2014
02/10/2014
02/10/2014
02/07/2014
02/06/2014
02/04/2014
01/29/2014
01/28/2014
01/28/2014
01/16/2014
11/19/2013
11/14/2013
11/13/2013
11/05/2013
11/04/2013
11/01/2013
10/30/2013
10/25/2013
10/22/2013
10/21/2013
10/20/2013
10/20/2013
10/16/2013
10/16/2013
10/10/2013
10/02/2013
09/26/2013
09/25/2013
09/18/2013
09/10/2013
08/19/2013
08/08/2013
08/05/2013
08/02/2013
07/24/2013
07/24/2013
07/23/2013
07/22/2013
07/22/2013
07/22/2013
07/19/2013
07/18/2013
07/18/2013
07/09/2013
07/02/2013
06/25/2013
06/18/2013
06/17/2013
06/13/2013
06/12/2013
06/12/2013
06/12/2013
06/03/2013
05/21/2013
05/16/2013
05/16/2013
05/07/2013
04/30/2013
04/29/2013
04/29/2013
04/11/2013
04/04/2013
04/04/2013
04/01/2013
03/26/2013
03/25/2013
03/25/2013
03/22/2013
03/20/2013
03/19/2013
03/13/2013
03/13/2013
03/11/2013
03/07/2013
03/04/2013
03/04/2013
03/04/2013
02/27/2013
02/21/2013
02/20/2013
02/05/2013
01/31/2013
01/30/2013
01/24/2013
01/16/2013
01/03/2013
01/02/2013
12/13/2012
12/10/2012
11/30/2012
11/21/2012
11/20/2012
11/20/2012
11/19/2012
11/19/2012
11/15/2012
11/15/2012
11/14/2012
11/13/2012
11/12/2012
11/12/2012
11/08/2012
11/02/2012
11/01/2012
10/17/2012
10/11/2012
09/24/2012
09/19/2012
09/12/2012
09/12/2012
08/29/2012
08/03/2012
07/18/2012
07/17/2012
06/28/2012
06/19/2012
06/12/2012
06/01/2012
05/31/2012
05/31/2012
05/24/2012
05/21/2012
05/18/2012
05/14/2012
05/01/2012
04/30/2012
04/20/2012
04/18/2012
04/18/2012
04/13/2012
04/03/2012
04/02/2012
03/30/2012
03/28/2012
03/22/2012
03/22/2012
03/21/2012
03/21/2012
03/05/2012
02/13/2012
02/13/2012
02/09/2012
02/09/2012
01/27/2012
01/26/2012
01/19/2012
01/17/2012
01/11/2012
01/09/2012
01/04/2012
12/14/2011
12/09/2011
12/09/2011
12/08/2011
12/01/2011
12/01/2011
11/21/2011
11/17/2011
11/17/2011
11/16/2011
11/14/2011
11/14/2011
11/03/2011
11/02/2011
11/01/2011
10/27/2011
10/23/2011
10/19/2011
10/14/2011
10/12/2011
10/11/2011
10/05/2011
10/04/2011
09/29/2011
09/28/2011
09/22/2011
09/22/2011
09/13/2011
09/07/2011
09/01/2011
08/25/2011
08/24/2011
08/24/2011
08/19/2011
08/12/2011
08/11/2011
08/11/2011
08/05/2011
08/01/2011
08/01/2011
07/28/2011
07/21/2011
07/21/2011
07/19/2011
07/07/2011
07/06/2011
07/05/2011
06/29/2011
06/27/2011
06/26/2011
06/23/2011
06/20/2011
06/17/2011
06/15/2011
06/13/2011
06/11/2011
06/07/2011
06/03/2011
06/01/2011
05/26/2011
05/24/2011
05/23/2011
05/17/2011
05/17/2011
05/13/2011
05/12/2011
05/04/2011
04/26/2011
04/25/2011
04/21/2011
04/08/2011
04/01/2011
03/31/2011
03/31/2011
03/28/2011
03/21/2011
03/16/2011
03/16/2011
03/10/2011
03/08/2011
03/03/2011
03/02/2011
02/28/2011
02/25/2011
02/24/2011
02/24/2011
02/22/2011
02/21/2011
02/18/2011
02/17/2011
02/16/2011
02/16/2011
02/15/2011
02/15/2011
02/14/2011
02/10/2011
02/08/2011
02/07/2011
01/31/2011
01/31/2011
01/31/2011
01/20/2011
01/19/2011
01/18/2011
01/14/2011
01/13/2011
01/11/2011
01/07/2011
01/06/2011
01/05/2011
01/05/2011
12/28/2010
12/21/2010
12/21/2010
12/21/2010
12/17/2010
12/17/2010
12/15/2010
12/14/2010
12/14/2010
12/09/2010
12/09/2010
12/02/2010
11/19/2010
11/16/2010
11/15/2010
11/10/2010
10/27/2010
10/26/2010
10/15/2010
10/14/2010
10/12/2010
10/08/2010
10/07/2010
10/05/2010
10/01/2010
09/30/2010
09/24/2010
09/20/2010
09/18/2010
09/15/2010
09/01/2010
08/25/2010
08/24/2010
08/04/2010
08/03/2010
07/30/2010
07/29/2010
07/28/2010
07/26/2010
07/23/2010
07/23/2010
07/08/2010
07/06/2010
06/18/2010
06/17/2010
06/17/2010
06/10/2010
06/09/2010
06/02/2010
05/26/2010
05/25/2010
05/24/2010
05/14/2010
05/13/2010
05/12/2010
05/11/2010
05/06/2010
05/03/2010
04/28/2010
04/27/2010
04/26/2010
04/22/2010
04/22/2010
04/22/2010
04/20/2010
04/19/2010
04/16/2010
04/09/2010
04/05/2010
04/01/2010
03/31/2010
03/30/2010
03/25/2010
03/11/2010
03/10/2010
03/05/2010
03/01/2010
02/18/2010
02/17/2010
02/16/2010
02/11/2010
02/11/2010
02/10/2010
02/05/2010
01/29/2010
01/28/2010
01/21/2010
01/14/2010
01/11/2010
12/23/2009
12/22/2009
12/17/2009
12/04/2009
11/25/2009
11/17/2009
11/04/2009
11/03/2009
10/29/2009
10/27/2009
10/26/2009
10/19/2009
10/15/2009
10/15/2009
10/13/2009
10/09/2009
10/08/2009
10/05/2009
10/01/2009
09/30/2009
09/28/2009
09/27/2009
09/27/2009
09/27/2009
09/27/2009
08/19/2009
07/15/2009
07/01/2009
06/24/2009
06/18/2009
06/01/2009
05/20/2009
05/04/2009
04/20/2009
04/03/2009
03/18/2009
03/04/2009
02/18/2009
02/04/2009
01/15/2009
12/31/2008
12/17/2008
12/05/2008
11/24/2008
11/03/2008
10/21/2008
10/06/2008
09/22/2008
09/05/2008
08/06/2008
07/17/2008
07/02/2008
06/13/2008
06/02/2008
05/15/2008
05/07/2008
04/14/2008
04/04/2008
03/19/2008
03/06/2008
02/26/2008
02/20/2008
01/17/2008
12/28/2007
12/19/2007
12/07/2007
11/20/2007
10/31/2007
10/16/2007
10/03/2007
09/18/2007
08/24/2007
07/27/2007
06/19/2007
06/01/2007
05/16/2007
05/02/2007
04/17/2007
04/07/2007
03/15/2007
02/20/2007
01/31/2007
01/12/2007
12/28/2006
12/18/2006
11/28/2006
11/26/2006
11/03/2006
10/20/2006
09/29/2006
09/14/2006
08/31/2006
07/28/2006
06/21/2006
05/31/2006
05/16/2006
04/21/2006
03/31/2006
03/17/2006
03/06/2006
02/16/2006
01/31/2006
12/29/2005
12/19/2005
11/30/2005
11/18/2005
10/31/2005
10/21/2005
09/30/2005
09/19/2005
08/31/2005
06/30/2005
05/31/2005
05/13/2005
04/29/2005
04/15/2005
03/04/2005
02/18/2005
01/28/2005
01/07/2005
07/29/2005
12/20/2004
12/12/2004
12/03/2004
11/19/2004
11/05/2004
10/22/2004
10/08/2004
09/20/2004
08/10/2004
07/20/2004
06/30/2004
06/11/2004
06/01/2004
05/21/2004
04/30/2004
04/20/2004
03/18/2004
03/02/2004
02/13/2004
01/30/2004
01/19/2004
12/31/2003
11/26/2003
11/14/2003
10/24/2003
10/11/2003
09/23/2003
07/31/2003
07/20/2003
06/20/2003
06/05/2003
05/16/2003
04/18/2003
03/31/2003
03/21/2003
02/28/2003
02/13/2003
01/31/2003
12/13/2002
11/14/2002
11/14/2002
10/31/2002
10/11/2002
09/25/2002
08/30/2002
08/16/2002
08/02/2002
07/12/2002
06/22/2002
05/17/2002
04/30/2002
04/19/2002
03/26/2002
03/08/2002
02/18/2002
01/23/2002
01/10/2002
12/11/2001
11/30/2001
10/31/2001
10/10/2001
09/20/2001
08/31/2001
08/17/2001
08/01/2001
07/12/2001
06/28/2001
05/31/2001
05/11/2001
04/30/2001
03/30/2001
03/14/2001
02/13/2001
01/25/2001
01/10/2001
06/19/2001
12/22/2000
12/08/2000
11/27/2000
11/08/2000
10/23/2000
10/05/2000
09/22/2000
09/01/2000
08/18/2000
07/10/2000
06/19/2000
06/02/2000
05/15/2000
05/03/2000