Hill, The
Can we better define what we mean by closing the digital divide?
Even with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds, the federal government will once again fail to address digital disparities without a clear definition of the problems being solved and a lack of substantive feedback from local stakeholders who understand the conditions of their communities. Part of this failure rests on the reliance of policymakers on regulatory guidance from communications policies drafted before the cont
Facebook executive Andrew Bosworth says 'people,' not platform, to blame for vaccine misinformation (Hill, The)
Submitted by benton on Mon, 12/13/2021 - 06:25Lawmakers focus on bridging broadband divide highlighted amid pandemic
After the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the deep broadband divide across the country, lawmakers said the recently passed infrastructure bill will connect many communities that struggled as much of daily life moved online. The newly passed infrastructure bill allocates $65 billion for broadband access, aimed at rural areas, lower-income populations and Tribal communities.
PW Singer and Kristin Lord: Fixing Facebook is not enough (Hill, The)
Submitted by Grace Tepper on Tue, 12/07/2021 - 17:03Why we need 'meta jurisdiction' for the metaverse
As Meta, the multinational corporation formerly known as Facebook, and other technology companies prepare for their versions of the coming “metaverse,” it would be wise to figure out ahead of time the rules to be applied inside these virtual worlds. Too often, technology companies innovate first and then figure out the ethical conundrums, regulatory challenges and governance fixes, when it can be too late. Terms of service from Big Tech do not often protect basic human rights.
As Congress dithers, private organizations step up to bridge digital divide
Even as lawmakers in Washington advance both of President Biden’s signature proposals to strengthen and expand America’s social safety net, it is doing conspicuously little to address one of the more pressing issues facing low-income communities of color across the country: a lack of access to affordable and reliable broadband internet.
Anti-Defamation League: Holocaust denial remains on Facebook one year after platform ban (Hill, The)
Submitted by benton on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 17:02Lobbyists turn to infrastructure law's implementation
The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill is enshrined into law, but the lobbying over its implementation is just getting started.
Bridging the digital divide: Investing where it counts
In 2020, we saw the consequences of the digital divide: the have and the have nots of broadband. Many students—particularly children and those residing in predominantly rural areas—fell unacceptably behind. 2021 is proving to be no different, and in some communities, it is even more dire, as many schools offer fewer online options for families. Thankfully, there are a few ways we can ensure that students are not left behind: