How the digital divide between cities and residents is affecting our neighborhoods

BELMEADE, Texas (KXXV) – As cities shift to using more digital services, many people who are not connected to the internet are feeling left out.

• Cities like Bellmead have notification systems that help deliver important alerts to the community.
• To sign up for Bellmead’s Notify Me system, click Here

broadcast transcript:
Miley Pulliam signed up for Bellmead’s “Notify Me” program after her water went out.

“I complained bitterly that I didn’t know about it,” Pulliam said. “Then I had to find out that I needed access to the system, and in order to receive alerts, they weren’t reaching everyone.”

Miley said she now uses email to receive these alerts.

“I think it’s great for them, but it has a downside for those people who haven’t yet entered the digital age,” she said.

“Notify Me” is a feature on the city’s website that allows residents to sign up for email and text updates.

Bellmead City Manager Yost Zachary said the system is important for getting information out to our community, from emergencies to road closures and even job postings. But he said it was difficult to get people on board.

“It was very difficult and I really encourage people not to be afraid of it,” Zachary said.

Across town, the Lacey-Lakeview Police Department said it was having trouble getting residents to sign up for the new “CodeRED” emergency management system. Police said it is difficult to reach a generation that does not go online or have access to it. Currently, less than 200 people out of thousands of residents are registered on CodeRED.

Pulliam says it’s easy to miss things online when there’s a lot to sort through.

“We don’t know what’s there,” she said. “You don’t know that you have to analyze so many things to get information.”

According to Pulliam, the digital divide continues to be a non-issue in our community.

Bellmead’s city manager said if anyone needs help setting up the online service to contact City Hall for assistance.

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