Policy Recommendations/Position Papers/Research
Through community-level research, we develop evidence-based policy recommendations and interventions that promote digital equity, literacy, and improved health outcomes. We actively support policy initiatives, as well as legislators, who prioritize health equity and broadband access.
WHITE PAPER:
Digital access is no longer a luxury but a necessity, and the digital divide in the South Bronx exemplifies a systemic failure rooted in historical structural racism. Disparities in broadband access, digital literacy, and equipment provision perpetuate poverty and exclusion. This white paper advocates for immediate action, framed through bioethical principles: justice, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. Addressing digital inequity is not just a technological challenge but a moral obligation to prevent further marginalization. We argue that inaction, when perpetuating inequity, carries moral culpability. The Ethics of Inaction
Executive Summary: The Ethical Failure of Inaction
Policy Brief: Advancing Digital Literacy for Health Equity in Vulnerable Communities
SUMMARY:
In vulnerable communities, particularly those facing socioeconomic challenges and limited English proficiency (LEP), the lack of digital literacy significantly hinders access to telehealth services, exacerbating health disparities. This policy brief evaluates two options to bridge this gap: community-based digital literacy programs and integrating digital literacy into healthcare services. The latter is recommended, as it directly links healthcare providers with patients to improve digital skills, health outcomes, and telehealth utilization.
Implementing digital literacy education within healthcare settings can bridge the digital divide, promote health equity, and empower underserved populations.
Policy Brief: Addressing Financial Barriers to Broadband Access After the Expiration of the ACP
SUMMARY:
The expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in April 2024 has left vulnerable communities in the South Bronx facing new barriers to digital access, despite the completion of broadband infrastructure improvements. This policy brief evaluates two primary solutions to address the affordability gap: broadband vouchers for low-income households and providing unlimited data plans with hot-spot capabilities. The broadband voucher program is recommended as it offers a more stable, long-term solution by leveraging existing infrastructure and ensuring households can access essential services like remote work, telehealth, and education.
By implementing broadband vouchers, this policy aims to bridge the affordability gap and ensure digital equity for the community, which remains a critical social determinant of health.
Reconceptualizing the Digital Divide as Digital Disability: Implications for Health Equity
SUMMARY:
This academic article builds on the recent term "digital disability" to describe the barriers marginalized communities face due to limited digital access and literacy. Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework, it reframes digital exclusion as a disability and a public health issue that prevents individuals from full participation in an increasingly digital world. The paper outlines policy recommendations, including improved infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and leveraging AI to close the digital gap. By viewing digital access as a fundamental human right, we can drive solutions that promote health equity and empower all individuals in our digital world.
Research
Digital Health Engagement Among Inner-City Hispanic Adults: Barriers, Trust, and Opportunities for Intervention
SUMMARY:
An ongoing mixed-methods, cross-sectional pilot study examining digital health literacy and engagement among patients in the South and Central Bronx. The study aims to identify barriers to digital health tool usage and inform interventions to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.
Author: Glenn Jakobsen, DO, MPH-Candidate (2025)
Date: August 2024
Status: Completing data collection
Policy Brief on Broadband Access: Reflections on the Process and in Using Bardach’s Eight-fold Path to Policy
SUMMARY:
A discussion of the challenges and nuances of aligning demographic and other data with qualitative findings within a Central Bronx community. Discusses using Bardach's policy development strategies iteratively after census and other data failed to capture real-world challenges voiced by the community studied.
