The Exit Interview: NTIA Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson

In early 2022, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alan Davidson to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information—and to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congress charged the NTIA with administering $48.2 billion in federal investments to close the digital divide—including the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment​ (BEAD) Program. The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society's Kevin Taglang had the opportunity to ask Assistant Secretary Davidson a few questions as his NTIA tenure came to an end. Asked to articulate his version of digital equity, Assistant Secretary Davidson said, "So, I guess to me, “digital equity” means that whoever you are, or wherever you live, everyone in America should have the opportunity to thrive in the modern digital economy. You should have access to reliable high-speed Internet service. You should be able to afford that service. You should have the devices you need to get online. And you should know how to meaningfully participate in the online economy."