What’s New in Digital Equity: Net Inclusion Forced to Expand

This week in “What’s New in Digital Equity” — our weekly look at government digital equity and broadband news — we have a number of interesting items, which you can jump to with the links below:

• Net Inclusion Forced to Expand
• Bipartisan Group of Senators Reintroduce Rural Broadband Bill
• Biden Administration Announces $33.5M in Internet Funds for Universities
• FCC Aims to Help Abuse Survivors Get Affordable Internet Access
• Company Brings Wi-Fi to Las Vegas Valley Mobile Home Parks
• FCC Approves Proposals to Help Rural Doctors With Internet

NET INCLUSION FORCED TO EXPAND

So many people signed up to attend Net Inclusion — the nation’s premiere digital inclusion conference — that organizers have now reopened registration.

And registration will remain open through Feb. 14. Net Inclusion is slated to take place from Feb. 28 through March 2 in San Antonio. It is organized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and has been since it first launched in 2016.

Officials with the NDIA expect more than 800 in-person attendees this year. That’s a number they probably couldn’t imagine when the event started. In fact, it’s almost inconceivable by last year’s standards, which saw 330 people attend.

But the pandemic (as we’ve chronicled) has sparked an interest in digital inclusion, which means making sure that all people have access to the Internet, as well as the devices and the skills they need to use it. Net Inclusion brings together people from government, the private sector, academia, philanthropy and community groups. It’s programming involves panels about helping folks get access to devices, building subsidized broadband networks, assembling digital equity coalitions and much more.

I myself am one of the 800-plus slated to attend, and I can’t wait. Taking recommendations for Tex-Mex restaurants (relatively) near the River Walk now. (Zack Quaintance)

BIPARTISAN RURAL BROADBAND BILL RETURNS TO SENATE

A bipartisan rural broadband bill has returned to the U.S. Senate.

The Rural Internet Improvement Act would give more support to broadband programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development office. It would combine some programs that are already working, require that funding goes to areas where 90 percent of houses lack Internet, and remove barriers so more Internet service providers could participate, among other things.

The bill was reintroduced this week by four senators, John Thune (R-S.D.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). (Zack Quaintance)

BIDEN SENDS $33.5M IN INTERNET FUNDS TO UNIVERSITIES

In other federal news, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that 12 grants, totaling over $33.5 million, have been awarded through the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC).

The program, which is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Internet for All initiative, directs $268 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for bringing connectivity to historically Black colleges or universities, tribal colleges or universities and minority-serving institutions.

The grants announced this week will help deliver community technology hubs, upgraded classroom technology and the digital literacy and skills training to 12 minority-serving colleges and universities in 10 states. (Julia Edinger)

FCC AIMS TO HELP SURVIVORS OF ABUSE AFFORD INTERNET

The Federal Communications Commission has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking draft on the subject of supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. If adopted, this would start the implementation of the Safe Connections Act.

Ultimately, it would help improve access to communication services for survivors of these types of crimes. The FCC noted that access to an independent phone and/or broadband connection helps these individuals communicate without fear that their location or other information would be revealed to their abusers.

If adopted, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would seek comment on several items: requiring mobile service providers to separate survivors’ lines from the abuser within two business days of receiving the request; requiring service providers to omit records of calls or texts to hotlines in the commission’s database of hotlines; and using the Lifeline program/Affordable Connectivity Program to provide temporary emergency communications support to survivors. (Julia Edinger)

COMPANY BRINGS WI-FI TO LAS VEGAS MOBILE HOME PARK

As broadband funding distribution efforts aim to connect those who are unserved or underserved, provider Kwikbit Internet is working to fill the gaps by delivering Wi-Fi to communities that are sometimes excluded or ignored in these efforts: manufactured/mobile home communities.

With an estimated 20 million Americans living in mobile homes, this demographic represents an important piece of the digital equity puzzle. Kwikbit just recently brought connectivity to a mobile home park in Las Vegas, and the company is currently operating in eight states. (Julia Edinger)

FCC APPROVES PROPOSALS TO HELP RURAL DOCTORS CONNECT

Finally, the FCC approved proposals for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program that would make it easier for doctors in rural communities to get support and funding for access to high-speed Internet.

The RHC works in this area full time, doing so to make sure doctors are connected so they can offer telehealth and telemedicine services. The proposals the FCC approved this week are wonky, but they ultimately mean less barriers for doctors in rural areas who seek and need financial support to get their practices connected.

You can read more about the RCH here. (Zack Quaintance)