- Maine’s Tech Help Initiative
- All States Can Now Begin BEAD Bargain Round
- “AI in the D” Brings Tech Skills to Detroit
- Immigration Sweeps Increase Digital Inequities
- Digital Equity for the LGBTQ+ Community
MAINE’S TECH HELP INITIATIVE
Maine launched a new tool last week called Tech Help for ME; it acts as a resource hub designed to help Maine residents get online. It does this by providing information about nearby locations with free Wi-Fi, computer classes, low-cost computers, one-on-one tech help, and more.
The resource includes an interactive map and a list of resources across the state, designed to be usable by those who have limited digital literacy, people who only have mobile access to the Internet, and who speak multiple languages.
The tool was developed by the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), the state agency responsible for broadband expansion and digital equity programming.
“Our focus is on helping people who face barriers to accessing online medical care, job postings, educational opportunities, and all of the other resources that many of us take for granted,” Jessica Perez, MCA’s digital equity manager, said in a statement.
The resource was created with support from partners to provide access to nearly 200 public libraries, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, adult educators and other supportive resources. MCA will continue working with partners to provide demo videos that will help users more easily navigate the tool. Currently, a mobile video walkthrough, a desktop video walkthrough, and a downloadable how-to guide are available on the platform.
Marijke Visser, the director of library development for one partner, Maine State Library, said in a statement that collaborating on this tool makes “perfect sense” as libraries work regularly with people facing barriers to Internet access. In fact, libraries play an essential role in digital equity work.
“We’re excited to have libraries and other local organizations findable through the app,” Visser said. “It's one more tool we can point people [to,] to meet their needs."
ALL STATES CAN NOW BEGIN BEAD BARGAIN ROUND
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced that all 56 states and territories have received approval to begin the subgrantee selection for their “Benefit of the Bargain” round of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program following the June restructuring of the program.
Some states have already opened their Benefit of the Bargain Round application windows, and different states are working with different timelines as the BEAD program was designed to be state-led.
Eligible entities have until Sept. 4 to submit a Final Proposal reflecting the results of at least one such application round. States’ progress can be monitored on NTIA’s BEAD Progress Dashboard.
“AI IN THE D” BRINGS TECH SKILLS TO DETROIT
The initiative was launched by the Chapman Family Foundation in partnership with Google.org. The Chapman Family Foundation plans to continue educating youth in the community and will launch a companion AI literacy program for senior citizens in the city next month.
"Without early exposure and access, young Detroiters risk exclusion from the very economy shaping their future,” Tamira Chapman, founder of the Chapman Family Foundation, said in a statement.
The initiative aims to serve as a model that can be replicated across the nation.
IMMIGRATION SWEEPS INCREASE DIGITAL INEQUITIES
Immigrant households are disproportionately impacted by digital inequities, and experts argue that an increase in immigration enforcement sweeps will make Internet access even more difficult to obtain.
Many undocumented immigrants have gone into hiding following an increase in raids, and this fear is not unique to those without documentation; documented immigrants who are living in the U.S. legally are also impacted by immigration raids.
“Those community members are having to stay home because they’re afraid, whether they are documented or not,” Cristal Mojica, a digital equity expert at the Michelson Center for Public Policy, told LAist.
For immigrants, both documented and undocumented, access to legal resources and the ability to communicate with family members are critical capabilities that increasingly require Internet.
DIGITAL EQUITY FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Another marginalized population that is disproportionately impacted by digital inequities is the LGBTQ+ community, according to a new report from LGBT Tech. Recent reporting indicates that nearly 1 in 10 members of the U.S. adult population identify as LGBTQ+. Of those adults, 73 percent rely on online platforms for learning and 41 percent use digital platforms to seek job opportunities.
Digital equity work is already being impacted by the federal government’s ban of initiatives that relate to diversity, equity, or inclusion. The LGBT Tech report underlines that fewer than half of state and territory digital equity plans reference this population or the unique needs and challenges of its members. The report describes instances in which online safety regulations can limit access to important information because LGBTQ+ content access can be limited — intentionally or unintentionally — through these controls.
"For LGBTQ+ individuals, broadband access often serves as a gateway to critical services, from telehealth to affirming social networks," the report said.
Inclusive digital literacy programming and access initiatives can help to bridge the access gap to enable all individuals to participate in the digital economy, the report concluded.
