Digital Equity

Plus, a new study looks into characteristics of the digital divide in counties, planning for Digital Inclusion Week 2022 is now underway, the White House awards $119M in grants to tribal communities, and more.

According to industry experts, the answer varies based on each state or community's needs, and some examples include obtaining federal broadband funding, creating long-term plans and anticipating future challenges.

The city’s municipal utility announced Wednesday it's boosting its Internet connection speeds through its fiber-optic division to offer 25 gigabits per second to all homes and businesses.

The National Skills Coalition has released an informational resource to support states in their implementation of the Digital Equity Act and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance has released its annual list of cities that meet its criteria for digital inclusion trailblazers, and this year’s group is the largest yet, featuring 32 local or regional governments.

Plus, Georgia allocates $240 million toward broadband grants; the Public Library Association is hosting digital literacy workshops at 160 libraries; every state has applied for the Internet for All Initiative; and more.

Officials in the Texas city are urging residents to take advantage of the federally funded Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides discounts for Internet service as well as technology, like laptops and tablets.

Starting this fall, an estimated 40,000 residents residing in five local neighborhoods will have access to free Wi-Fi under an expanded city network called CFW Neighborhood.

On Aug. 15, states must submit initial planning funds applications to the NTIA to receive federal broadband funding. One industry expert and three state broadband directors share what to expect.

The Iowa Office of the Chief Information Officer released the latest broadband coverage map last week, which aims to determine where high-speed Internet is available in the state and where it's lacking.

Plus, federal lawmakers introduce multiple pieces of legislation related to boosting the nation's broadband infrastructure, Texas moves forward with its own broadband availability map, and more.

The federally funded broadband project created 61 miles worth of service to houses in previously unserved parts of New Carlisle, South Charleston and South Vienna. Additional funding will connect 1,000 more homes.

Alaska leaders are stepping up efforts to land a giant chunk of more than $65 billion that's available to improve broadband service across the U.S., largely through last year's infrastructure bill.

By offering free home Internet service to low-income families, a Tennessee school district has nearly eliminated racial disparities in parental involvement and opened the door for virtual parent-teacher conferences.

The Bloomberg-funded group has offered its benchmarking certification program in the United States for years, and now it’s opening it up to local governments throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Farmers in Somerset County, Pa., are calling for creative solutions from the state to expand rural Internet service. The region — a mix of hills, mountains and ridgelines — has been historically difficult to connect.

A panel at the AWS IMAGINE education conference in Seattle this week said schools are already equipped with the tools needed to tackle digital equity if governments, administrators and educators can put them to use.

Plus, the White House announces $401 million in broadband funding now headed toward rural areas, a strong majority of adults in the U.S. now considers high-speed Internet a necessity, and much more.