Zach Hubeck’s Post

In 2020, by one federal estimate, 18% of people living on tribal lands were unable to access broadband (outside of tribal areas, that number was closer to 4%). In rural tribal areas, about 30% of people were unable to access broadband. Learn how fragmented bureaucratic processes and a lack of funds to cover upfront costs slows digital equity efforts https://hubs.li/Q02yrB-R0

Rev. Charles Boyer’s recent essay sheds light on a crucial issue: while states like New Jersey are making strides toward universal high-speed #Internet access, there remains a significant #digitaldivide, especially in Black and Latino communities. The federal B.E.A.D. funding that is being deployed to states offers a tremendous opportunity to bridge this gap. Public and private leaders across the nation can leverage this funding to invest in digital navigators, #digitalskills training, and local digital equity initiatives, and ensure that every American benefits from the #connectivity they need. https://lnkd.in/gQBi3C46

"Communities can look different, but at the end of the day, the impact of digital inequity is the same. It means your community is ‘other-ized.’” — Zaki Barzinjii of Aspen Digital. Learn more about digital inequity from our ROADS collaboration. https://lnkd.in/eJjscttj #DigitalEquity #Broadband #Rural #RuralDevelopment

“Libraries are an essential part of the infrastructure for digital inclusion, from policy development to service delivery. Libraries are inherently democratic spaces that can enhance access to information for all, including the digitally disadvantaged. Libraries must continue to be enabling partners in building connected societies that are sustainable, accountable and people-centred.” #IFLAInternetManifesto #DigitalInclusion

This week, we released a report, “Digital Equity in the U.S. Northeast, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” mapping broadband cost, speed, and availability for those areas between 2020 and 2023. The report finds that the rural, lower income, and tribal communities in the areas studied are most affected by a lack of broadband access, with tribal lands and rural communities having the slowest download and upload speeds. Learn more and download here: https://nyfed.org/3Yg7jbP

Digital Inclusion and Accessibility: Strategies to Ensure All Citizens, Regardless of Their Technological Skills, Can Participate in Digital Democracy

In the transition to the online sphere, a deep understanding of digitization is no longer optional as it is quickly becoming a must for all local governments. As local government officials and institutions everywhere adopt the technology of the times, citizens without digital literacy skills are getting left behind. Learn how San Antonio, Texas, a municipality of Bexar County, recognized the socioeconomic and digital divide in their community. Take inspiration from how government officials in San Antonio worked tirelessly to get thousands of citizens internet access, and develop a deeper understanding of the impact accessible Wi-Fi has for citizens. This success story from Bexar County can teach us a lot about recognizing constituent hardships and executing impactful solutions. Read our blog post to learn about the problems facing citizens in San Antonio, and how the city leveraged funds and resources to ensure equitable internet access for all! https://lnkd.in/d29RukUJ – Follow GovPilot for the latest in government trends and technology and learn more about government management software at govpilot.com #civictech #govtech #government #governments #govpilot #govcloud #localgovernment #cloudstorage #inclusion #equity #diversity #texas #digitalliteracy #wifi

In today's digital age, equitable access to online information and services is essential for modern governance. While 95% of Americans regularly use the internet, disparities persist based on race, income and geography. The NTIA's broadband USA program, fueled by the Digital Equity Act, aims to bridge this gap by providing $2.75 billion to promote digital equity plans, local governments have a unique opportunity to modernize services and enhance civic engagement. Learn more 🔗 https://okt.to/ny2oRK #DigitalEquity #BroadbandForAll #SmartGovernment #CivicEngagement #DigitalInclusion

#SLG organizations play a key role in advancing digital equity, ensuring all residents have access to essential online services. Granicus' latest blog explores actionable strategies to bridge the digital divide and create more inclusive communities. Dive in here: https://ow.ly/wzi630sHrR9

According to the June 4th Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Digital Beat article, Neighbors Providing Service to Neighbors, Vermont's Approach to Community Broadband, "In 2019, The Vermont Department of Public Service found that nearly a quarter of Vermont addresses lacked service that met the then federal benchmarks for broadband speeds...The COVID-19 pandemic only underscored the urgent need in a state that has consistently ranked near the bottom of connectivity comparisons over the past decade." The article continued to explain how Vermont communities organized and innovated, setting a model for the rest of the nation to follow in using Communications Union Districts (CUDs) as a solution. "Through these CUDs, Vermonters in 216 of the state's 252 towns are combining forces to improve broadband access for their communities. It is, as State Representative Laura Sibilia puts it, "neighbors providing service to neighbors." Click the link below to read the full article which details the history of the formation of ECFiber, including mentions of current ECFiber Board Chair F. X. Flinn and former co-founder and CFO Stan Williams, a review of Vermont Act 71, created to accelerate community broadband development, the creation of the Vermont Community Broadband Board as well as other Vermont CUDs - NEK Broadband, DVFiber, and CVFiber. https://lnkd.in/gSzQ9A85 #ECFiber #communitybroadband #CUDs #vermont #broadband