- Highlights from Digital Inclusion Week 2024
- Federal Grant Program Sees Major Demand
- One BEAD Proposal Approval Remains
- Tracking Digital Service Teams
- Rural Fiber Boosts Local Economies
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK 2024
Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) 2024, a week of awareness and celebration of the digital inclusion work taking place nationwide, was celebrated with 194 events in 27 states.
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance powers this initiative, which was Oct. 7-11, offering support to participating individuals and organizations and spreading awareness of the events happening nationwide. Last year marked the biggest DIW on record, but the event’s origin dates back to 2017.
Many organizations at various levels of government took part in events ranging from conferences to digital skills workshops.
The city of Madison, Wis., celebrated DIW with the launchof an online resource hub to help improve residents’ digital literacy. The city’s resource hub aims to help connect its inhabitants — as well as city staff — to digital devices, Wi-Fi, digital literacy training and other opportunities. The hub was created with support from local and regional community partnerships.
“The role of city government is to provide the infrastructure and basic services our residents need to thrive,” the city's Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement. “Increasingly, that means having the tools and skills to navigate the digital world.”
Other localities marked the week in their own unique ways. The city of Dallas celebrated digital skills with a digital art challenge.
At the federal level, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) observed DIW by highlighting its commitment to, and progress in, advancing digital inclusion. NTIA also underlined in a blog that the DIW theme, “Stronger Together: Mobilizing Toward Sustainability,” includes a belief the organization shares about the importance of collaboration.
Other federal agencies including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Education, also commemorated DIW. Numerous state broadband entities, like Connect New Mexico and BroadbandOhio, also participated and highlighted the work they are doing and events happening throughout their states.
Many nonprofit organizations also participated in DIW including Open Technology Institute, LGBT Tech and Tech Goes Home.
NDIA will provide more information about DIW 2025 as it develops. Until then, digital equity stakeholders can prepare for the next NDIA event: Net Inclusion 2025.
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM SEES MAJOR DEMAND
In federal news, NTIA announced the receipt of more than 700 applications requesting funding for digital equity projects. The applicants requested more than $6.5 billion in funding — a total more than six times the amount available through Digital Equity Act’s Competitive Grant Program’s first round of funding.
“The overwhelming interest in our digital equity funding underscores the urgent need for access to digital resources in communities across the country,” NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson said in a statement.
Applications for this round were due Sept. 23. NTIA will evaluate the applications and begin awarding funding this winter; awards will occur on a rolling basis.
ONE BEAD PROPOSAL APPROVAL REMAINS
In digital equity news at the state level, several new states have received approvals on their initial proposals for Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding this week; 55 of 56 states and territories have now seen approvals. As of Thursday morning, Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio join the growing list of states to have had their proposals approved. The states will receive funding up to the amount they were allocated. For the latest states to receive approvals, that amount is more than $1.4 billion, $1 billion, $1.8 billion, $1.1 billion, $1.5 billion and $793 million, respectively.
The approval of Texas’ initial proposal is expected in the coming weeks, Davidson said on a podcast.
TRACKING DIGITAL SERVICE TEAMS
The Digital Service Network (DSN), supported by the Beeck Center and U.S. Digital Response, has launched a new trackerthat enables individuals to better understand and locate the growing number of U.S.-based governments that have established dedicated digital service teams.
Many governments are staffing up such teams, from South Bend, Ind., to the state of Maryland, to San Francisco, Calif.
For those government agencies that have established a digital service team whose information they would like to see on the tracker, they can use the Digital Service Team Tracker intake form. The DSN is accepting feedback and questions about this tool.
RURAL FIBER BOOSTS LOCAL ECONOMIES
According to new research from the Center on Rural Innovation, fiber broadband in rural communities significantly boosts income, entrepreneurship and business investment.
The peer-reviewed study analyzes data from three types of rural communities with varying levels of broadband connectivity. It found there is a significant impact to the economy in those that have high broadband adoption rates. For example, those with adoption rates over 80 percent lead to 213 percent higher business growth and a 44 percent higher gross domestic product growth. It also leads to income growth.
The research also features several specific case studies to demonstrate the tangible impact of access to services from smaller broadband providers in rural communities.
