Digital Equity

President Donald Trump has called for ending the Digital Equity Act, which Congress passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, referring to it as unconstitutional. Advocates respond and examine what that could mean.

Plus, new broadband legislation has been introduced, the BEAD program remains on hold amid pressure to expedite its review, Philadelphia has launched a laptop distribution initiative, and more.

Level Up Philly showcased Philadelphia high school students' tech skills at NASCIO, featuring VR and robotics demonstrations and highlighting the potential of youth from underserved communities for government technology roles.

Plus, New Jersey has launched a new grant program, a small California city has begun building its fiber network, a new report assesses federal broadband data gaps that could impact reaching universal connectivity, and more.

State accessibility officers convened at the NASCIO Midyear Conference with a call to action: State and local governments must prioritize upgrading their websites to meet impending federal accessibility deadlines.

New York City’s new pilot program, Neighborhood Tech Help, will deliver access to in-person technical support for affordable housing developments and community centers, to expand digital literacy.

Plus, Idaho will soon end its digital navigator helpline, an Illinois county is distributing software licenses for digital skills training, Cleveland State University supports digital skills and more.

Montgomery County in Maryland, part of the Washington, D.C., metro area, is in the midst of a five-year push to improve housing. A housing executive explains how new technology is helping to achieve that goal.

The Massachusetts capital has released results of an assessment to inform its 2025 Digital Equity Plan’s development. It outlines the city’s progress and offers suggestions to address remaining barriers to access.

The case management company, which helps people with disabilities find jobs, has hired gov tech veteran Mike Wons as CEO. He describes Libera’s newest Amazon-backed effort to improve its services.

Plus, new federal broadband legislation has been introduced, North Carolina has launched a new grant program, an apprenticeship program has been created in Ohio, and more.

The Maryland city is focused on doing grassroots work with local groups to get residents connected to the digital economy more effectively. Meanwhile, its middle-mile network sets the stage for greater consumer choice.

Plus, North Carolina announces broadband funding, Barriers to Broadband fellows will tackle several research projects, a campaign eyes device upcycling to drive online access, and more.

Plus, New York announced $50 million for broadband infrastructure, Philadelphia has launched a tool to find free Wi-Fi in the city, federal broadband legislation has been introduced, and more.

As DOGE-driven cuts target services for people with disabilities, a new report finds that local government officials have bought into the concept of more accessibility. Even so, those officials see significant hurdles.

Plus, the Supreme Court is addressing the Universal Service Fund, Idaho is changing its Broadband Advisory Board structure, Boston funds digital literacy and more.

The president signed an executive order in January calling for the removal of references to diversity, equity and inclusion in federal government programs. It is already impacting those doing digital equity work.

Digital navigators across the country show up for their communities by teaching the technical skills people need in an increasingly digital world.