Digital Equity

Plus, organizations urge Congress to support legislation for rural communities; a report explores redundancies in federal broadband programs; and much more.

St. Landry Parish, La., residents were recently left without Internet for days after a line was inadvertently cut during construction. The incidents highlighted the lack of other Internet options in the area.

After the pandemic sent digital equity skyrocketing up civic priority lists, some of the nation’s major Internet service providers have started teaming with advocates in unprecedented ways.

The resources come via the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The money will be used to connect un- and underserved parts of the state.

The digital divide leads to lost opportunities for people in underserved broadband areas, officials said as they discussed how to spend $1.16 billion expected from the federal government to help solve the problem.

Plus, Houston is hiring a broadband director; more governors issue comments on the federal BEAD funding for high-speed Internet; and U.S. senators are fighting for a broadband strategy.

The nonprofit Consortium for School Networking’s online dashboard includes data on population demographics, financial information, Internet speeds and other metrics for states and counties across the U.S.

A new publication released today by the Aspen Institute's Latinos and Society Program offers four key principles for Latino digital success in an attempt to guide digital equity work across different sectors.

Maine recently got official word that it will receive $272 million in federal funding to build more Internet connectivity in the state as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress in 2021.

Plus, more state leaders react to recent federal funding decisions on broadband, the National Tribal Telecommunications Association will hold an event in August, and more.

Following challenges to the federal government’s broadband data from local governments and residents, the White House has released each state’s funding amount for broadband projects. Alaska received the most per capita.

Plus, one Florida city is launching a new digital navigators program; Nebraska names a new state broadband director; a Texas city is launching a digital inclusion art contest for students; and more.

The federal government has announced that Washington state will get more than $1.2 billion to expand Internet access. But how big of an impact will the money actually make for residents?

The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development is working with the city’s library systems to pilot solutions that will expand technology access and use for the constituents the agency serves.

The state is set to receive more than $196.5 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as part of the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program.

Sam Callahan, a third grade teacher and data consultant, says schools can use self-assessments and better systems of organizing and analyzing data to help teachers address racial disparities.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced a $1.16 billion allocation to the state to close the digital divide. Not everyone is convinced it’s enough to bridge the gap.  

Plus, the Public Library Association is awarding $1.27 million to support digital literacy workshops in libraries across the country, Michigan is building 525 miles of new high-speed Internet, and more.