- Long Beach Releases Resources
- Baltimore Unveils Broadband Report
- Seattle Awards Technology Funds
- Federal Communications Commission Staffing Changes
- Massachusetts Invests in Public Housing
- Survey Reveals Decreased Trust in Digital Services
LONG BEACH RELEASES RESOURCES
The city of Long Beach, Calif., has released two new resources to support digital inclusion work: an updated and multilingual Digital Inclusion Resource Guide and a Digital Inclusion Resources Asset Map.
The first resource was updated in partnership with a variety of entities that work on digital inclusion, including city departments, nonprofit organizations, community members, Internet service providers, education institutions and private technology companies.
The guide, available in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Khmer, provides information about Internet service options and Internet-enabled device access in the city available for a low cost, as well as digital skills training programming. There is also information about where free public Wi-Fi is available in the city, and resources available from the Long Beach Public Library.
The map is an interactive tool highlighting local resources, organizations and programs that are working to close Long Beach’s digital divide. Users can search for resources by location, resource type, or program needs.
The latter resource was also created through a collaborative process with stakeholders “to ensure digital inclusion resources are easily accessible to community-based organizations and residents,” said Lea Eriksen, Long Beach CIO and director of technology and innovation.
The city’s new resources can be found on its Digital Inclusion Initiative website, which also has information about the city’s hotline to help connect residents and businesses with the services and support they need.
This builds on related work in the city, such as the September release of its Digital Inclusion Implementation Plan and the June 2024 update to its Digital Rights Platform.
BALTIMORE UNVEILS BROADBAND REPORT
The city of Baltimore has released a report on its progress in connectivity during 2023 and 2024, Broadband and Digital Equity: Progress, Successes and Lessons Learned.
The document, which arrived March 12, highlights some of the city’s key accomplishments, including the expansion of its free public Wi-Fi network, FreeBmoreWiFi; digital skills training; and expanded device access through the Baltimore Chromebook Distribution Program and related efforts.
In the future, the city will release similar reports every October in alignment with Digital Inclusion Week.
As Mayor Brandon M. Scott put it in a statement: “While we’ve made significant strides, our work is far from finished.” Through his vision of “Closing the Digital Divide Once and For All,” the city Office of Broadband and Digital Equity has increased its focus on initiatives addressing systemic barriers to access.
SEATTLE AWARDS TECHNOLOGY FUNDS
In other local news, the city of Seattle announced its annual Technology Matching Fund award recipients. This will support 14 community organizations with funding to provide various programming.
The projects are expected to impact more than 4,000 residents across 32 language groups. The program itself is a collaboration between the city, community organizations, and corporate partners. The Technology Access and Adoption Study from last year revealed an improvement in Internet access while acknowledging the existence of disparities.
“The Technology Matching Fund represents our commitment to creating a tech-empowered and equitable future for all,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement.
More information about the program and past winners can be found on the city’s website.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STAFFING CHANGES
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks has announced his intention to resign from his role this spring.
“I have learned so much from my time in this position, particularly when I have heard directly from Americans on the issues that matter to them,” Starks said in a statement.
Fellow Commissioner Anna M. Gomez issued a statement thanking Starks for his service and highlighting his commitment to protecting consumers. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also issued a statement expressing thanks: “Commissioner Starks put in the work and leaves an impressive legacy of accomplishments in public service.” The FCC is typically split along party lines, but Starks' resignation makes Gomez its single Democratic member until another is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
This news closely follows the announcement that Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Director Evan Feinman served his last day in the role March 14 amidst an ongoing review of the program. He said he hopes his public statement about his resignation will “create a broad outcry” among digital equity stakeholders to get the $42.45 billion program back on track.
Feinman urged stakeholders to contact members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Trump administration to advocate for the removal of extraneous requirements, while allowing for state-level flexibility so the program can continue largely as Congress intended.
MASSACHUSETTS INVESTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING
In state news, Massachusetts will be leveraging more than $10 million through the Residential Retrofit Program to upgrade Internet access in almost 8,000 public and affordable housing units.
The projects funded through this investment will install modern cabling in each unit to increase access to reliable, affordable broadband service.
“The Residential Retrofit Program is making smart, targeted investments to ensure future generations have the critical access they need to succeed in the modern economy,” Yvonne Hao, secretary of the state Executive Office of Economic Development, said in a statement.
The program was launched in March 2024 using funds from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund, through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The state is now seeking eligible housing operators for future funding under the program; those parties must fill out an expression of interest form by March 28.
SURVEY REVEALS DECREASED TRUST IN DIGITAL SERVICES
The 2025 Consumer Digital Trust Index from Thales revealed a decline in trust in digital services across sectors. Per the survey, not one sector’s consumers — including government — reached more than 50 percent approval in trusting digital services with their personal data.
Government, however, was the only sector that saw trust increase from last year, albeit slightly, reaching 41 percent trust compared to 37 percent last year.
Notably, privacy fears are a major factor in consumers making the decision to stop interacting with a brand, with 82 percent doing so last year.
Governments are exploring how to rebuild trust through human-centered design and citizen engagement tools, following the rise of digital services catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
