Lunch & Learn: Mapping the Digital Divide

Access to high speed internet is often take for granted, but many communities have struggled to access what is now considered a necessity. In this talk, GES's Charlie Kaylor will examine his 25 years of research on unequal broadband access and adoption, exploring the broader implications of these persistent disparities. Advocates for broadband expansion in underserved communities have long emphasized the critical need for comprehensive mapping to understand both the scope of connectivity gaps and opportunities for targeted intervention. Kaylor will trace the evolution of this mapping work, from an early broadband assessment project in Kentucky in 2001 through mapping initiatives in Philadelphia in 2014, demonstrating how these efforts have revealed enduring digital divides that continue to shape federal policy discussions today.

Bio:

Charles Kaylor is an assistant teaching professor in Geography & Environmental Systems (GES) where he also directs the GIS+Cartography lab. His interests include sustainable infrastructure, specifically how spatial technologies can be used to plan for climate change. His recent projects include measuring social vulnerability to climate change in the Mekong Delta, climate change and public opinion, and broadband expansion.