Digital Equity

State lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the creation of a new public authority to coordinate the investment of tens of millions of dollars in federal funding for broadband infrastructure in Maine.

The GOP-led budget committee voted to borrow $125 million for broadband expansion projects throughout the state, overriding Gov. Tony Evers’ initial proposal of about $200 million over the biennium.

The 15th annual SWeETy (Summer Welding & Electrical Technology) Camp at Calhoun Community College, Alabama, is training high school girls for careers as electricians, welders, engineers and other male-dominated jobs.

The Essex County, Mass., Community Foundation has announced a new $2 million initiative that seeks to help connect thousands of residents who lack access to a computer or an Internet connection.

Part of a strategic partnership to help historically black colleges and universities modernize their digital infrastructure and cybersecurity systems, the money will go toward student financial aid and tech services.

Polk County, Fla., has had a broadband advisory committee and broadband plan for years, but many residents still have trouble performing duties for school and work due to a lack of affordable high-speed Internet.

A coalition of senators, led by Washington's senior Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, is behind a proposal that would funnel $1 billion in grants over five years to help close the digital divide.

After a court ruling in April ordered the state to help students especially in rural and tribal areas that lack access to technology, New Mexico has a three-year strategic plan to coordinate such projects.

Recent legislation in New Jersey will direct colleges and universities to address barriers of entry to STEM programs for women and people of color, with the goal of connecting underrepresented groups with in-demand jobs.

Economists at the University of California in Santa Cruz found that enrollment in the state's community colleges decreased by 12 to 15 percent last year. They believe that struggles with online learning played a role.

Long interested in bridging educational gaps for women and people of color, a teacher at Bret Harte Middle School in California has inspired students and recruited them to computer studies with all-girls classes.

To address inequities in learning loss during the pandemic, which largely stemmed from poor access to broadband and technology, the state has set guidelines for districts and accelerated learning programs this summer.

The number of Coloradans who lack access to a home broadband is likely several-fold higher than what either the FCC or the Colorado Broadband Office are measuring, according to a new study from BroadbandNow.

After surveying close to 400 K-12 districts across the U.S., the Consortium for School Networking found widespread concerns about IT staffing and cybersecurity given the rapid adoption of technology in schools.

Web-based programs such as the coding kit LINGO and the mobile app Capri, which teaches financial literacy, are helping women and people of color prepare for jobs in which they're underrepresented.

The Los Angeles Metro Board voted to move forward with developing a pilot project that would make transit free for students and low-income riders on one of the nation’s largest transit systems.

While many tech companies vocalized their support for the Black Lives Matter movement last year, little action has been taken. In fact, some companies that supported BLM have become less diverse in terms of workforce.

With $300 million to spend on expanding broadband service across the state, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority plans to solicit Internet businesses on how to best proceed in anticipation of awarding bids on projects.