A Conversation with Tony Mobley, Host, on why the show exists, Part 2: the digital divide in 2026
Part 1 asked why this show exists. Part 2 maps the ground it has to cover.
Tony Mobley returns to the question he opened in September: why Conversations with Tony Mobley exists at all. Part 1 made the case that the show and the digital divide are the same argument, seen from two directions. Part 2 lays out the map: the key areas where technology either opens a door or quietly closes one, and what it would take to bridge the gap together.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET Live at conversationswithtonymobley.com
Why This Conversation, and Why Now
On September 9, Tony sat in the host chair and the guest chair at once, to explain why a show built on conversation has a stake in who gets left out of access. That episode named the divide. This one breaks it down.
This week’s show card carries its own agenda, under the heading Key Areas to Explore: Technology & the Digital Divide, and four words that sum up the aim: people, solutions, opportunity, and a more equitable 2026. Eleven areas in all, from the laptop on the kitchen table to the laws that decide who can afford a connection.
What We Expect to Explore
Getting Connected
- Computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, and the accessibility devices that make them usable for everyone
- High-speed broadband for rural and underserved areas, affordable internet plans and community Wi-Fi
- The everyday software and platforms people need, and what the subscriptions really cost
Skills and Safety
- Basic computer skills, media literacy and job readiness
- Protecting personal data and spotting online threats
- Safe practices for every age, and building trust in technology
Learning, Health and Work
- Online learning, support for students and lifelong learning opportunities
- Telehealth access and reliable health information online
- Remote work, digital job skills and support for entrepreneurs
Community, Policy and the Future
- Community inclusion, and support for the people most at risk of being left behind
- Affordable internet initiatives, digital equity legislation and public-private partnerships
- AI and emerging technology, used ethically, so that no one is left behind
Who This Conversation Is For
This one is for anyone who has watched technology move faster than the people around them could follow, and for the teachers, pastors, carers, librarians and community leaders who help them catch up. If you heard Part 1, this is where the argument turns practical. If you missed it, Part 1 is here.
Tony welcomes questions from the live chat during the broadcast.
Join the Conversation
The show airs live on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 8:00 to 9:00 PM ET, here at conversationswithtonymobley.com. Bring the part of the divide you see most clearly in your own life or work, and bring your questions to the live chat. Technology should lift everyone, and bridging the gap is something we do together.