1. Monthly archive
  2. March 2020

March 2020

Sponsor: 

Schools Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition

Date: 
Tue, 03/24/2020 - 18:00 to 19:00

States across the country are increasingly taking action to close gaps in broadband access. A new report from the Broadband Research Initiative at Pew Charitable Trusts explores nine states exemplifying “promising practices” in their broadband programs. Community anchor institutions (CAIs) are essential partners in closing the digital divide, on both a state and local level.


Virus-driven shift to online classes brings home the digital divide

K-12 schools weighing a shift to online learning in the shadow of the coronavirus are grappling with what to do about kids who don't have internet at home. "I don’t think the schools are adequately prepared to provide online learning to all of their students at home if they have to close for a long period of time," said John Windhausen, executive director of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition. "It could be better than having no school whatsoever, but there are an awful lot of questions about how to do so fairly."

How Cleveland is bridging both digital and racial divides

Cities and states with racial disparities in health and economic status face a choice: Let broadband become just another marker of racial inequity, or make the choice to support and empower communities of color through equal access to affordable broadband and the digital skills to use it. Cleveland (OH) is one city where civic leaders and local activists are working to close the race-based digital divide through a mix of innovative solutions and institutional advocacy.

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