Challenges

Proving the Digital Divide: Traditional methods of surveying households were slow, manual, and subjective. There were also technological skill gaps among households, and participation from students and parents added friction.

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Broadband Quality Discrepancies: There was a need to demonstrate discrepancies in broadband quality between different areas of Oakland, particularly between the underserved Oakland Flatlands and wealthier regions.

Data Acquisition: Gathering up-to-date data to showcase patterns of poor connectivity was asignificant challenge.

Solution

HubbleIQ provided a robust solution to these challenges through its automated data collection and analysis tools:

Automated Data Collection: HubbleIQ deployed its browser extension to 25,000 students within minutes, enabling the collection of real-time broadband data.

Comprehensive Testing: Over 500,000 tests were run in the first 60 days, covering 20,000 unique networks. This extensive data collection provided a clear picture of broadband performance across the city.

Data Analysis and Reporting: HubbleIQ's tools allow for detailed filtering, exporting, and analysis of data, helping to paint a full picture of broadband quality and identifying areas with significant connectivity issues.
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Results

HubbleIQ's deployment and data analysis yielded significant findings:

Digital Equity Mapping: The real-time data collection highlighted stark disparities in internet quality across different neighborhoods. For example, in the 94621 ZIP code (with a median income of $54k and 91% people of color), the median internet speed was 15 Mbps, compared to 97 Mbps in the 94618 ZIP code (with a median income of $220k and 31% people of color).

Broadband Performance Insights: The data revealed that 76% of all internet connections in the community failed to reach the "served" criteria of 100 Mbps. This crucial insight helped advocate for necessary infrastructure improvements.
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Impact

The use of HubbleIQ's data had an impact on several fronts:

Grant Application Success: HubbleIQ's data was pivotal in proving broadband inequities in Oakland. This data supported OaklandUndivided's application for a $15 million grant from the California Public Utilities Commission for broadband infrastructure improvements. With HubbleIQ's data, Oakland was shortlisted as one of the four applicants out of hundreds, significantly bolstering the city's chances of securing the grant.

Advocacy and Policy Development: The quantitative proof provided by HubbleIQ's data strengthened advocacy efforts, making a compelling case for addressing the digital divide. This data was instrumental in advancing a digital equity bill in the state of California.

Enhanced Educational Equity: By identifying unserved and underserved areas, HubbleIQ's data helped target efforts to improve broadband access, ensuring that students in these areas could have better connectivity and equal opportunities to succeed academically.

Community and Economic Benefits: Infrastructure improvements in the Oakland Flatlands will not only enhance broadband access for students but also benefit the wider community. Improved broadband access will enable residents to participate fully in the digital economy, creating opportunities for economic improvement, job creation, and enhanced quality of life for families in these areas.

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