Meeting Veterans’ Digital Equity Needs

On Monday, November 11th, to commemorate Veterans Day, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society released Veterans and Digital Equity: Planning for Success, a collaborative research effort with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Offices of Connected Care and Rural Engagement. We reviewed state digital equity plans to better understand what states' strategies are for connecting Veterans. My coauthors, Dr. Leonie Heyworth, Lesly Roose, and DeAsia Nichols, and I identified five key strategies taken by states to address the digital divide experienced by Veterans: 1) Link needs assessments to their implementation strategies, 2) Leverage other state and federal agencies, 3) Identify specific standout partners, 4) Design a workforce strategy for Veterans, and 5) Prioritize access to health care. On November 12th, the Benton Institute convened four experts to discuss Veteran’s digital equity. The panel, which I had the honor of moderating, included:

• Dr. Leonie Heyworth, Deputy Director for Clinical Services, Telehealth Services, Office of Connected Care, Digital Health Office, VHA, Department of Veterans Affairs,
• Dr. Lindsey Thurgood, Digital Access Program Manager, Utah Broadband Center,
• Mark Casper, President and CEO, Tech For Troops, and
• Walter Prescher, Digital Navigator, BridgingApps Rep, Easter Seals Greater Houston