- NDIA Program Highlights Indigenous Work
- Louisiana Launches $1.3B Grant Program
- Ohio Invests $94.5M in Broadband
- Orlando Seeks Digital Skills Training Leader
- Detroit Launches Free Wi-Fi at Parks
NDIA PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INDIGENOUS WORK
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) has announced the launch of a new initiative to recognize Native entities for their digital inclusion work.
It follows other recent NDIA actions reflecting its focus on uplifting Native entities for their digital inclusion work. Last year, NDIA announced its new Tribal Digital Inclusion Trailblazers benchmarking program; and last month, NDIA announced it will host its annual event, Net Inclusion, on tribal lands for the first time in 2025.
Applications are open for the new program, which is known as Seven Star Communities. The communities that will be recognized are tribal governments, Native nations and Indigenous entities that have demonstrated a sustainable ecosystem for supporting education, health, economic and social needs.
“We wanted to recognize and honor tribal entities exercising self-governance and building digital inclusion ecosystems that have huge impacts on their communities,” Angela Siefer, executive director of NDIA, said in a statement to the media.
A set of principles developed by NDIA’s mentor group, which is made up of Indigenous practitioners nationwide, will guide the program. The principles state that the program will act as a knowledge-sharing resource for best practices by and for tribal entities. It will set a standard for excellence in digital inclusion work by tribal and Indigenous communities. It will also establish an honor roll and promote work in this area by tribal entities.
Importantly, the program’s guiding principles state the program will maintain tribal entities’ sovereignty and reflect cultural values of Indigenous communities.
Materials submitted through this program’s applications will be made publicly available to act as a learning opportunity for other communities.
Those interested in applying can do so now through Sept. 30 on the program web page. This is also where more information on scoring and evaluation can be found.
The digital divide disproportionately impacts those in rural and tribal populations, an issue exacerbated by COVID-19. A 2021 report found that nearly half of disconnected people are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Addressing this gap requires a multifaceted approach, including building new networks and investing in digital skills training.
LOUISIANA LAUNCHES $1.3B GRANT PROGRAM
In state news, Louisiana’s $1.355 billion grant program, GUMBO 2.0, will enable the distribution of broadband funding statewide. The program, supported by funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is expected to support broadband expansion to 140,000 locations.
GUMBO 2.0 is also going to create jobs — an expected 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs. The state expects its gross domestic product to increase by $1.3 billion because of this program.
“I am eager to see this program in action, and I look forward to the economic impacts it will have on our state for generations to come,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement.
OHIO INVESTS $94.5M IN BROADBAND
In other state news, Ohio on Wednesday announced an investment of $94.5 million for Internet access. This is part of the second round of the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant program.
“Having grown up in rural Ohio, I know firsthand how limited technology access can make people feel left behind when it comes to opportunities,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said in a statement. “We are changing that in Ohio.”
Time Warner Cable Midwest and Brightspeed will leverage the funding to do six projects in 23 counties. In addition, 12 Internet service providers independently committed to funding 51 more projects in 25 other counties.
ORLANDO SEEKS DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING LEADER
At the local level, the city of Orlando is looking to hire — either an individual or a company — that can provide digital skills training opportunities at neighborhood centers in the city.
“In addition to ensuring access to the Internet and tech, they want to make sure Orlando residents know how to leverage this tech and stay safe,” Mike Hess, the city's director of sustainability and resilience, and of its Future-Ready City Initiative, said in a LinkedIn post.
The city has released a request for proposals for digital literacy training classes. Questions can be submitted until Sept. 9, and proposals must be submitted by Sept. 19.
DETROIT LAUNCHES FREE WI-FI AT PARKS
In other local news, the city of Detroit has finished installing free public Wi-Fi at five parks: Bradby, Chandler, Clark, McDuffy and Palmer. The project also included installing solar-powered charging stations the public can use to charge devices.
About 12,600 Detroit residents live within a half-mile of these five parks. A study on park Internet usage that ended in June found more than 25,000 people had already used the Wi-Fi networks — a number officials expect has since increased.
This project was made possible through a pilot project announced in June 2023, supported by $265,000 in grants from the Detroit Pistons Foundation, the Rocket Community Fund and the Knight Foundation.
