Falling Down the Lane: How (Smart) Cities Try to Tackle the Digital Divide

Subtitle of our paper: A Survey of Practices Against Digital Exclusion in Medium-Sized Cities in Germany Our research investigates how medium-sized German cities address the issue of the digital divide within their Smart City and digitalization strategies. It examines the extent to which policy documents contain concrete or normative measures designed to ensure digital participation and prevent exclusion, particularly for digitally disadvantaged population groups. The research is based on a comprehensive survey of digitalization- and Smart City strategy documents from 54 medium-sized German cities (20,000 – 100,000 inhabitants). A multi-stage methodological approach was applied, combining automated text extraction, systematic key-word searches, and qualitative content analysis for inductive category development. Our analysis reveals widespread rhetorical commitment to digital inclusion, but significant variation in the specificity and operationalization of measures. An imbalance between symbolic objectives and actionable strategies is observed. A typology of six measure types was developed. The frequency distribution of these measure types shows that most cities prioritize implementation-level actions, particularly communication-oriented instruments such as PR campaigns and public events. In contrast, structural and institutional measures – such as binding design principles, analogue alternatives, or long-term support structures – are mentioned far less frequently. While we explicitly do not assess the practical implementation or effectiveness of the measures described, the framework developed enables comparative research and highlights the need for deeper institutional commitment to digital inclusion. We identify concrete entry points for strengthening digital participation, emphasizing the need for long-term structural approaches and multi-dimensional measures combining communication, education, participation, spatial infrastructures, inclusive design principles, and personal support roles. Our research contributes to the largely understudied area of digitalization strategies in resource- and capacity-constrained cities and provides an analytical model that differentiates between strategic vs. operational and normative vs. specific approaches to addressing the digital divide. It offers policymakers and researchers a systematic tool for evaluating and developing inclusive digital transformation strategies.