Internet equity motion gets OK

City department will investigate digital discrimination complaints, develop an information program

The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion Wednesday seeking to address inequitable access to the internet for historically disadvantaged groups, including people of color, immigrants, older adults and those who are poor.

The City Council voted 13-0 to forward Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson's motion, which seeks to update city law to broaden investigations of complaints against discrimination to include digital discrimination.

Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Heather Hutt were absent during the vote.

The motion instructed the Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department to develop a public information program to educate residents about digital discrimination claims and create a procedure to forward complaints to the Federal Communications Commission for consideration.

For example, customers in low-income neighborhoods might receive slower or worse service, while at the same time an internet provider offers fast, reliable service to higher-income neighborhoods.

The department will be tasked with tracking digital discrimination complaints and using the data as means to identify potential trends. The Bureau of Street Lighting also will report back with recommendations to address challenges and ensure equitable broadband access for city residents.

The California Public Utilities Commission's Public Advocate's Office defines digital redlining as “practices in which private or public entities limit investments in the installation, expansion or upgrading of internet service infrastructure within specific geographic areas.”

The council's Civil Rights, Equity, Aging and Disability Committee approved the motion during its meeting Dec. 12.

About 10 people showed up to back the motion at that meeting, stressing that

the coronavirus pandemic brought to light the severity of a digital divide.

Evelyn Jimenez, an education advocate for Para Los Niños, an organization serving families and children across Los Angeles County, told council members that 92% of people it serves live below the federal poverty level, and 90% of its students

are English learners.

“Through our work we see firsthand the devastation and impact of the digital divide,” Jimenez said. “This was especially evident during the pandemic where we had to provide nearly 2,000 devices to families with children who otherwise would not have access to it for remote learning.”