An oft-invoked pun in broadband policy circles is the exhortation to support a fiber rich diet. But data indicate that actual dietary benefits may arise out of strong broadband connections.
At the outset, it bears mention that this issue is still a topic of investigation and study. This should not surprise us – most tech-based endeavors focus first on the clearer purpose-driven applications, with derivative follow-on applications emerging later. Nevertheless, those later-forming applications often create broad, “long-tail” value.
Several inquiries have explored the role of internet connectivity in resolving the adverse impacts of “food deserts,” namely, areas in which there is low availability of healthy foods. These investigations explore whether broadband connectivity can facilitate access to healthy food information and services. The underlying theory is that internet connectivity may enable users to identify retail sources of healthful foods more easily, or to even order those foods online. Putting this into practice, however, is a different fox hunt entirely.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service reports that approximately 2.3 million people live in low-income, rural areas that are more than 10 miles from a supermarket. But the potential efficacy of online food purchases for rural areas remains unknown. A study exploring online food purchasing in an urban food desert (for example, an urban area that lacks a full-service supermarket) found the largest proportion of pre-tax online food spending was for meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy, whereas dessert, candies, and sweets were represented in the smallest proportional category of online food purchases. At first blush, that is reassuring news. A potential challenge for rural areas, however, may be identifying participating retailers who can support online ordering, especially for perishable foods, e.g., those represented in the largest category of purchased products, above (meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy).
Online food orders have been identified as a potential tool to address nutrition needs. A 2019 USDA pilot program covering 48 states and the District of Columbia permits online purchases with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The initiative was created in response to the 2014 Farm Bill, which required a pilot to “test the feasibility and implications” of allowing online SNAP transactions. (See, Agricultural Act of 2014, § 4011(b), 128 Stat. 649, Pub. Law 113-79 (2014)). Implemented in May 2019, conclusive results of the initiative have not been assessed. However, as of February 2021, only 11 of the 46 participating states featured a grocer in addition to big names like Aldi, Amazon, and Walmart. Stated differently, there is yet a dearth of participating grocers, and this puts users in small rural areas at a distinct disadvantage. Moreover, online purchasing does not necessarily equate to delivery; many customers must still travel to the grocer for pick-up. Finally, both prospective and current participants have identified staffing, payment, and other difficulties in launching and sustaining the pilot programs. Conclusive results to support the proposition that broadband connectivity can alleviate adverse impacts of living in a food desert have not yet been demonstrated.
As is the case with many “long tail” applications, exploration of these opportunities is yet young. But even if the jury is still “out,” the collective studies and pilots demonstrate that the panel has been convened and is attune to the role that broadband can play in a solution.