Microsoft expands Airband Initiative to address the digital divide for racial minorities Jun 3, 2021 10:02 EDT with 4 comments In 2017, Microsoft announced the Rural Airband Initiative as a means to address the digital broadband gap in the U.S., particularly with regards to the disparity between high-speed internet availability in metropolitan vs. rural areas. Over the past few years, the tech giant has made a number of advancements in this regard. Today, in yet another step towards closing the digital gap, Microsoft has announced that eight more U.S. cities will now be included in the scope of its Airband program, with particular focus on serving Black, African American, Latinx, and Hispanic communities. The cities that have been added as part of this effort include Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland, El Paso, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, and New York City.