- Register for Net Inclusion
- K-12 Digital Equity Framework Revealed
- New BEAD Funding Proposal Approvals
- Kentucky Launches Portal for BEAD Funding
- N.C. County Parks Get Free Wi-Fi
- An Intergenerational Approach to Digital Literacy
REGISTER FOR NET INCLUSION
Save these dates: the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and other organizations will host events related to digital equity.
Early registration is now open for the NDIA’s annual event, Net Inclusion 2025. Net Inclusion 2025 will be held in the Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Ariz., from May 20-22. This is the first time the event will be held on tribal lands.
“Early bird” tickets are available now for nonprofit, tribal and government entities and for private-sector entities.
The event changes locations each year; this year, it was in Philadelphia. The 2024 event’s location was changed in an effort to ensure inclusion of the entire community, with NDIA citing safety concerns about holding it in Chattanooga, Tenn., due to an uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
Insightful moments at Net Inclusion 2024 included the launch of the Tribal Digital Inclusion Trailblazers program and discussion about the impact artificial intelligence will have on the digital divide.
NDIA’s conference is not the only upcoming digital equity event. In the private sector, Amazon Web Services has announced “Breaking Barriers: A Generative AI Hackathon for Digital Inclusion.” Set for Sept. 20-23, it will explore how GenAI will impact the digital divide.
Finally, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) continually hosts webinars to provide guidance for applicants to the federal Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program — which is accepting applications through Sept. 23. U.S. territories are eligible to apply separately; their applications are due by Oct. 22. NTIA hosted a webinar on Aug. 8; the next is Wednesday.
K-12 DIGITAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK REVEALED
Digital Promise, a nonprofit organization working to expand learners’ opportunities, has unveiled the “Digital Equity Framework,” offering guidance for K-12 education systems and state government to help improve learners’ access to the opportunities of the digital age.
The framework is intended to help school system leaders future-proof their schools, and to help states develop programs and policies to enable digital equity for students.
The resource provides strategies that help bridge the gaps for K-12 students identified in the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan, the first update the national ed-tech plan has gotten since 2017.
In a blog entry Wednesday, Digital Promise said a framework with similar guidance for higher education institutions will be released soon.
NEW BEAD FUNDING PROPOSAL APPROVALS
Two new states have now received approvals on their initial proposals for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding. As of Thursday morning, both Wyoming and New York have received approvals.
These two are the latest in a series of states to see their proposals approved. Last week, Arizona, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin had their proposals approved. The BEAD program is a $42.45 billion state grant program that was enacted through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The states will receive funding up to the amount they were allocated. Through the BEAD program, Wyoming will receive up to $347 million and New York will receive up to $664 million. With these initial proposals approved, BEAD-eligible entities can begin to access funding and move towards plan implementation.
KENTUCKY LAUNCHES PORTAL FOR BEAD FUNDING
In other state news, Kentucky has opened its Broadband Grants Management Portal for user registration.
Registration is the first step in applying for the $1.1 billion in funding that Kentucky has been allocated through the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) fund. The second step, which opened Wednesday, is the pre-qualification phase, involving the collection of information from prospective applicants. The third step will be application submission for BEAD funding; this phase is slated to open in November.
The process will be overseen by the Kentucky Office of Broadband Development. More information about the process is available in the portal user guide.
N.C. COUNTY PARKS GET FREE WI-FI
At the county level, Mecklenburg County, N.C., is installing free public Wi-Fi hubs at 14 parks and recreation facilities. Users will have unlimited Internet access.
The locations are in several areas identified by the Park and Recreation Department as “priority communities” in need of investment. The news release notes neighboring residential properties will benefit from the free service. No signup is required to use it.
“Adding Wi-Fi to these parks and facilities makes them stronger hubs for the community engagement, education, and relationship building required to create a resilient and thriving community,” Peter Cook, deputy director of Park and Recreation, said in a statement.
This initiative is supported by American Rescue Plan Act funding.
AN INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH TO DIGITAL LITERACY
At the city level, Lincoln, Neb., is putting to use a grant it received from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Nebraska Community Challenge. The grant will support an intergenerational experience in which college and high school students will educate seniors on digital skills, including how to use cellphones and laptops.
The initiative’s goals include improved access to social media and web-based material. Digital learning events will take place at three city locations, on Sept. 18, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13.
The AARP Community Challenge Digital Literacy Project aims to make the city more age-friendly, and to improve livability for residents of all ages.
