Sources
The sources we worked with consisted of three primary datasets, a range of scholarly articles, and policy reports from credible authorities. While exploring available data sources related to topics such as “broadband” and “internet access,” we found a dataset published by Microsoft Research Lab that contains broadband availability and usage data across all U.S. counties for 2019 and 2020. With its fine granularity, this dataset allowed us to investigate the geographic disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as the gap between broadband availability and usage within each state.
While analyzing the dataset, we drew on Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s framework on power and history to critically assess how silences, particularly the exclusion of underrepresented voices, can persist despite the seemingly expanding broadband coverage. This theoretical lens led us to focus on a city with one of the nation’s largest internet access disparities and to explore how demographic factors influence individuals with minimal internet access. Using the second dataset on Louisville, which contains variables on race, redlining grade, household income, internet speed, and pricing, we examined how systemic inequalities shape internet access for minority groups, revealing patterns tied to socioeconomic and historical factors. Additionally, we used the FCC’s RDOF (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund) dataset, which contains information on federal broadband infrastructure investments awarded through Auction 904. This dataset offered key insights into the policy-driven dimensions of the digital divide, showing how governmental decisions shape broadband access—especially in rural and underserved areas.
In addition to these datasets, we also explored various scholarly journals from platforms such as the UCLA library, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. These sources offer an interdisciplinary view of the digital divide, bridging together technical infrastructure and social justice perspectives to reveal both the structural causes and potential solutions to digital inequality. To enrich our analysis of the effectiveness of federal and state policies in increasing broadband adoption, we also reviewed policy reports published by government organizations and research institutions, such as the Pew Research Center and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). By integrating policies implemented between 2019 and 2020 with our broadband dataset, we were able to evaluate the impact of various strategies, such as task forces and funding mechanisms, and better understand broadband adoption from a holistic perspective.
Processing
We utilized three primary datasets for our project. The first dataset, provided by Microsoft as part of its Airband Initiative, contains detailed information on broadband usage and availability across counties of the United States in 2019 and 2020. Although the data were generally clean, we encountered a few extreme values, prompting us to perform data cleaning in Excel to ensure consistency and accuracy. The second dataset, obtained from The Markup, a non-profit investigative newsroom, includes broadband-related data and demographic indicators such as race, redlining and income across 38 U.S. cities. Given the broad scope of this dataset, we narrowed our focus specifically to Louisville, due to its illustrative data patterns and historical legacy as a redlining city, making it a meaningful case study for examining the intersection of race and digital inequality. The last dataset, published by the FCC, provides information on broadband funding allocations through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). This dataset required minimal cleaning and was used to map infrastructure investments across states and census blocks, helping us analyze how federal policy decisions correlate with geographic disparities in broadband access.
We downloaded all necessary datasets in .csv format, which facilitated our data analysis and visualization process. Tableau was employed to create all of our visualizations, including both charts and interactive maps. Specifically, we employed diverse chart types including bar charts, scatter plots, and line charts, providing a comprehensive illustration of patterns and relationships within our data. Maps played an especially critical role since many findings involved geographic dimensions, making them the most intuitive tool to illustrate distributions and comparisons clearly. These visualizations were exported as embedded code, which we then integrated into our website. This enables viewers to zoom into specific regions and explore detailed information within charts, effectively reinforcing our arguments and enhancing audience engagement. Additionally, we incorporated Timeline JS to construct an interactive timeline outlining broadband policy implementation across various regions in the U.S., providing the audience with essential historical and political context for our study.
Presentation
After data processing and research compilation, our team collaborated to produce an accessible and captivating digital experience. We built our website using WordPress and then enhanced it with unique HTML and CSS to improve usability and refine the design. Our presentation revolved around the interactive Tableau visualizations we produced, which were essential to making our data come to life.
Another thing we did was incorporate fully interactive visualizations into our pages instead of depending on static charts. This was to allow users to zoom into particular areas and hover over data points with interactive elements, enabling them to interact with the data in more meaningful ways. For example, on our “Demographic Factors” page, viewers can explore Broadband Access vs. Racial Composition in Louisville Neighborhoods via a dynamic embedded map, which includes search and zooming capabilities. We believe this level of interactivity creates a far more intuitive and informative experience than static images alone could provide.
We also carefully designed our website’s layout to facilitate a coherent narrative flow. With dropdown sections that lead users through various sections like geographic patterns, demographic insights, and practical policy implications, the main navigation menu arranges our project into a progression. To promote linear navigation through our findings and strengthen the narrative we set out to tell, we also incorporated “Up Next” buttons at the bottom of each page. To improve usability and guarantee that the experience remained clear and intuitive, we implemented features like a fixed navbar, a bold color scheme for emphasis, and a clean layout. Our overall presentation encompassed the importance of balancing visual appeal with quality content, demonstrating the importance of both leveraging digital tools in research as well as conveying information with clarity.