About

Organizational Summary: By Will

Hello, we are EquitableNet

We have come together to create a resource that will assist people who are having issues with reliable and accessible internet connections. EquitableNet was founded by 5 University of Colorado - Denver students, all united around a common goal.

While in the planning stages of this project, we noticed the fact that none of us had ever met in person, yet we were working together effectively, building our team, and exchanging ideas rapidly. It was not lost on our group that the foundation of our collaborative efforts is a reliable internet source, which we all are thankfully able to have. Throughout the pandemic, the shift to remote work and higher interconnectedness was accelerated to a degree that few had predicted; schools, businesses, and government functions went fully online within a matter of days.

This rapid change was great for many areas of workers and students, as they got to stay home and continue their jobs and studies as normal. But for a large portion of society, a solid internet connection and a capable computer have been hard to come by. In the past, this was not as consequential as it is today. Many higher paying jobs require some remote time. Many higher-education institutions only offer some classes necessary for graduation in an online or remote format.

We address the uneven distribution of internet and technology connections by creating a centralized platform offering information on

  • Where to get free and discounted internet services

  • Ways to obtain or upgrade computers, modems, routers and other hardware items

  • How to stay safe and protect privacy while on the internet and in video calls

  • Social implications of lack of broadband internet

  • Applying for jobs


Who We Are:

Our team is composed of five UC Denver Students, each bringing different strengths needed to complete the project.

  • Alexander - Project Manager / Lead Web Developer

  • Jacob - Internet Security Advisor / Web Content Author

  • Will - Social Equity Advisor / Web Content Author

  • Ryan - Internet Access Advisor / Web Content Author

  • Alan - Telework/Hardware Advisor / Web Content Author

Social Impacts, Equity, and TeleHealth: Will

Social Impacts and Equity:

According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in April 2020, more than one in six people living in poverty have no access to the internet. (Swenson & Ghertner, 2020) The problem is exacerbated when examining those who live in poverty in nonmetropolitan areas, and especially crucial when it comes to people 65 and older; only 59% of them have access to the internet. In a changing world this can greatly strain how underserved populations connect with family, friends, health care professionals, and businesses.

TeleHealth:

Social determinants of health generally include access to quality food, schools, hospitals, and increasingly, access to reliable broadband internet. According to govtech.org, “Broadband is defined as high-speed, reliable Internet with actual download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps. It can be delivered via fiber, wireless, satellite, digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable.” Many rural communities have correlations between negative health outcomes and lack of broadband. The Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force found that in areas like the Appalachian Mountains, “70 percent of counties with the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality have rural broadband access below 50 percent.” (Raths, 2021)

Telehealth screenings can make a big difference in communities like these, where the nearest medical provider can be hours away, and lack of funds can make it difficult to travel. In 2019, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai took a trip to Allen County, Kentucky, an isolated and economically disadvantaged area with a school system of 3,000 students. There was no pediatrician in the area, and the nearest hospital was a considerable distance. Through an FCC-funded program, the school board was able to partner with the Vanderbilt University Children’s Hospital, and now students can take a walk to the nurse’s office and receive a virtual screening from world-class pediatricians. (Raths, 2021)