RALEIGH – Raleigh is among the nation’s best cities for expanding access to digital technology, a report from the United Way of the National Capital Area found.

Often described as “digital equity,” the organization behind the report said that the concept might not feel like a big deal, as long as you have access to an affordable, reliable device that can connect to the internet.

Which isn’t always the case for those living in Raleigh.

Still, one of the reasons the city ranked so highly while others in North Carolina did not perform as well is that Raleigh is among the best in the nation for the number of free wireless internet hotspots, per capita.

And many Raleigh residents – but not all – have access to internet that is fast, at least one gigabyte.  Still, that fast internet access isn’t priced low, meaning some do not have access to the top speeds of connectivity.

So while Raleigh is among the top 15 cities in the nation for digital equity, there remain digital gaps in the area, too.

“There is no urban, suburban or rural area that is immune to the problem,” said Matthew Bauer, vice president at the Wireless Research Center, in a 2021 interview with WRAL TechWire.  “Households in every community are lacking fundamental and basic needs to participate in today’s economy and society.”

According to the data set shared with WRAL TechWire, only 87.7% of adults living in Raleigh have access to a computer and an internet connection, while 93.6% of students have access to both a computer and an internet connection.

So there’s room to close the digital gap, even in Raleigh, which ranked 15th in the nation.

North Carolina still seeking to enhance broadband access, connectivity, statewide

Other cities

Other places in North Carolina have a ways to go, as well.

Take Winston-Salem, for example, which had the 15th worst ranking, according to the United Way study.  Or Greensboro, which had the 16th worst ranking among the data set obtained by WRAL TechWire.

Across the Triangle, Durham ranked 32d overall, a few spots higher than in Austin, Texas.  Charlotte ranked 60th in the study.

And more internet providers are setting up shop in the Triangle, lately.

And a July presentation delivered at the House Committee on Appropriations, Information Technology meeting indicated that only 73% of households in North Carolina have high-speed internet subscriptions, with 81% of households with children with internet access.

But the plan for the state is to boost connectivity to 80% of all households and 100% of all households where there are children living by 2025.  Governor Roy Cooper announced a $200 million deal to spur further initiatives aimed at closing the digital skills gap and increasing internet access in North Carolina.

Broadband provider investing $50M for ultra fast internet in Durham, Orange counties